Kubrick’s 2001: the film that haunts our dreams of space
by Robin McKie Observer Science Editor from on (#3MS41)
The film director's masterpiece, which has influenced scientists and artists alike, is 50 years old this month
Astronomers last week announced official names for the principal mountains and valleys of one of the solar system's remotest objects, the tiny world of Charon. More than 3.6bn miles distant from the Sun, the moon - which orbits the dwarf planet, Pluto - was first observed closely in 2015 when the US probe New Horizons swept over its freezing, airless surface.
Now the features revealed by the robot craft have been given titles by the International Astronomical Union. And key among the explorers and scientists honoured are the film director Stanley Kubrick and the writer Arthur C Clarke.
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