Moon crater named after late Mountaineer Pasang Lhamu Sherpa

KATHMANDU, Aug 7: The U.S. Geological Survey has announced that the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature approved the name Lhamu for a crater on the Moon.

The crater, located on the summit of an important lunar south pole mountain, has been named "Lhamu Crater" by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to honor the first Nepali woman to summit Mount Everest/Sagarmatha and celebrate her incredible achievement.

Pasang Lhamu Sherpa’s feat paved the way for young Nepali women and inspired countless women around the globe to reach even greater heights. “The United States is proud to celebrate this historic honor alongside Nepal, recognizing Pasang Lhamu Sherpa's legacy,” said the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu.

The IAU Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature has approved 11 names for features at the Chang'e 6 Landing Site so far. They include Statio Tianjiang, Mons Song, Xu Xiake, Levi-Montalcini, Salam, Zhang Zhongjing, Su Song, Chien-Shiung Wu, Li Shizhen, Perey, and Li Bing.