August 21, 2026 11:57 pm (IST)
NASA names Pluto peaks after Tenzing Norgay
California, July 19 (IBNS): In a proud moment for India, NASA has informally named a region of icy mountains on Pluto after Tenzing Norgay, the Indian Sherpa who reached the summit of Mount Everest along with Edmund Hillary on May 29, 1953, reports said.
The icy peaks, which have been named Norgay Montes, are as high as 11,000 feet (3,500 meters) above the surface of the icy body.
Icy mountains on Pluto and a new, crisp view of its largest moon, Charon, are among the several discoveries announced Wednesday by NASA's New Horizons team, just one day after the spacecraft’s first ever Pluto flyby.
The mountains on Pluto likely formed no more than 100 million years ago -- mere youngsters in a 4.56-billion-year-old solar system. This suggests the close-up region, which covers about one percent of Pluto’s surface, may still be geologically active today.
“This is one of the youngest surfaces we’ve ever seen in the solar system,” said Jeff Moore of the New Horizons Geology, Geophysics and Imaging Team (GGI) at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California.
Tenzing's family members told media that they felt honoured by this recognition.
"NASA could have name the mountains after any American legend-its decision to use Tenzing Norgay's name was unexpected," Tenzing's son Jamling was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Cockroaches, flies, chemicals near food: Mumbai FDA suspends licences of top eateries, clubs
Fri, Aug 21 2026
India dismisses Pakistan's 'frustration' over US envoy's J&K remark
Fri, Aug 21 2026
Centre denies US visit clearance to Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, says programmes 'not appropriate'
Fri, Aug 21 2026
Indian Navy gets major boost as indigenous anti-submarine warfare ship ‘Mangrol’ delivered
Fri, Aug 21 2026
India’s space push gets rocket boost! PM Modi meets 20 startup CEOs
Fri, Aug 21 2026
Rahul Gandhi stages dharna at Delhi police station over CJP protest crackdown, targets Amit Shah
Fri, Aug 21 2026
CJP school tour turns chaotic in Jaipur: Cars vandalised, stones pelted as Ashutosh Ranka alleges BJP ‘goons’ attack
Fri, Aug 21 2026
Trump’s ‘Economic D-Day’ against Iran: What it means for India
Fri, Aug 21 2026
