Pluto may not be a planet anymore, but its family keeps growing. Two new moons orbiting the dwarf planet were discovered in 2011 and 2012, and SETI is holding a contest to name them.
"Astronomers are asking for help in naming two newly discovered moons of Pluto, which currently go by the uninspired monikers P4 and P5," writes Space.com.
The names can't be shared by any other heavenly body, and they must somehow relate to the Greek god Hades, whom Pluto is named for. Pluto's three named moons already follow that specification.
"The winners will join Charon, Pluto's largest moon, named after the boatman who ferried souls across the river Styx; Hydra, named after the nine-headed serpent who battled Hercules, and Nix, named after the shadowy goddess of the night," writes Wired.
Mark Showalter at SETI has a page up where amateur astronomers can vote for one of the names provided, like Acheron, Cerberus, Styx or Lethe.
"Alternatively, if you have a great idea for a name that we have overlooked, let us know by filling out the write-in form. If you can make a good case for it, we will add it to the list," writes Showalter.
Star Trek captain William Shatner suggested the moons be named "Vulcan" and "Romulus," after the homeworlds of Mr. Spock and an oftentimes enemy of the Federation.
Traction quickly grew for the names, and Vulcan was accepted as a write-in, shooting to the top of the list, ahead of second-place Styx. Vulcan was the Roman god of the forge and fire. But Romulus, the founder of Rome, already has the moon of an asteroid named after him, and is therefore ineligible. Still Shatner was pleased, tweeting, "Did you hear? They added the name Vulcan to the list of possible names for Pluto's moons! You did it! I'm so happy."
Voting ends Feb. 25.
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