Classical albedo features on Mars
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| Mars, as seen through a small telescope in 2003, showing the patterns of brightness and color known as albedo features. | |
The classical albedo features of Mars are the light and dark features that can be seen on the planet Mars through an Earth-based telescope. Before the age of space probes, several astronomers created maps of Mars on which they gave names to the features they could see. The most popular system of nomenclature was devised by Giovanni Schiaparelli, who used names from classical antiquity. Today, the improved understanding of Mars enabled by space probes has rendered many of the classical names obsolete for the purposes of cartography; however, some of the old names are still used to describe geographical features on the planet.
Contents
History
Early telescopic astronomers, observing Mars from a great distance through primitive instruments (though they were advanced for their day), were limited to studying albedo contrasts on the surface of the planet. These albedo contrasts rarely correspond to topographic features and in many cases obscure them. The origins of the albedo contrasts were a mystery. The lighter patches at the poles were correctly believed to be a frozen substance, either water or carbon dioxide, but the nature of the dark patches seen against the general reddish tint of Mars was uncertain for centuries. When Giovanni Schiaparelli began observing Mars in 1877, he believed that the darker features were seas, lakes, and swamps and named them in Latin accordingly (mare, lacus, palus, etc.). Within a few decades, however, most astronomers agreed that Mars lacks large bodies of surface water. The dark features were then thought by some to be indications of Martian vegetation, since they changed shape and intensity over the course of the Martian year. They are now known to be areas where the wind has swept away the surface dust, leaving a darker, rockier surface; their borders change in response to windstorms on the Martian surface that pick up the dust, widening or narrowing the features.
The first astronomer to give names to Martian albedo features was Richard A. Proctor, who created a map in 1867, based in part on the observations of William Rutter Dawes, in which several features were given the names of astronomers who had been involved in mapping Mars; in some cases, the same names were used for multiple features. He was followed by Giovanni Schiaparelli, whose observations differed from Proctor's, and who used this difference to justify drawing up an entirely new scheme of nomenclature in Latin, drawn from the myths and history of classical antiquity with a mixture of other sources. Proctor's names competed with the Schiaparellian names for several decades, and were used in notable early maps drawn by Camille Flammarion in 1876 and Nathaniel Green in 1877. The Proctorian names are now, however, regarded as totally obsolete. In 1958, the International Astronomical Union created a list of officially recognized Martian albedo features, including many, but not all of Schiaparelli's names.[1]
The advent of space probes has revolutionized the scientific understanding of Mars, and some of the classical albedo features have become obsolete as they do not correspond clearly with the detailed images provided by spacecraft. However, many of the names used for topographic features on Mars are still based on the classical nomenclature of the feature's location; for instance, the albedo feature 'Ascraeus Lacus' provides the basis of the name of the volcano Ascraeus Mons.
In addition, since most Earth-based amateur telescopes are not powerful enough to resolve the topographic surface features of Mars, amateur astronomers still use many of the old feature-names to orient and record their observations.
Common feature names
Several Latin words involved here are common nouns. These are generally, but not always, second in the name, but are usually ignored in alphabetizing below:
- Campi (ˈkæmpaɪ) - fields
- Cherso (ˈkɛrsoʊ) - peninsula
- Cornu (ˈkɒrnjuː) - horn, peninsula
- Depressio (dɨˈprɛʃioʊ) - lowland
- Fastigium (fæsˈtɪdʒiəm) - summit
- Fons (ˈfɒnz) – fountain
- Fretum (ˈfriːtəm) – strait
- Insula (ˈɪnsjʊlə) – island
- Lacus (ˈleɪkəs) - lake
- Lucus (ˈljuːkəs) - grove
- Mare (ˈmɑriː, ˈmɛəriː) – sea
- Nix (ˈnɪks) – snow
- Palus (ˈpeɪləs) - marsh
- Pons (ˈpɒnz) – bridge
- Promontorium (ˌprɒmənˈtɔəriəm) – cape
- Regio (ˈriːdʒioʊ) - region
- Silva (ˈsɪlvə) - wood
- Sinus (ˈsaɪnəs) – bay
List of albedo features
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Not listed here are the "canals" also observed and named by Schiaparelli, for which see the article Martian canals.
A
| Name | Pronunciation | Meaning | Modern name(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abalos | ˈæbəlɒs | A no-longer existent island in the North Sea, east of Heligoland | Abalos Colles, Abalos Mensa, Abalos Scopuli, Abalos Undae |
| Achæorum Portus | ˌækiːˈɔərəm ˈpɔrtəs | "Harbor of the Achaeans" | Obsolete |
| Acherusia Palus | ˌækɨˈruːʒiə ˈpeɪləs | "Marsh of Acherusia", named after the legendary swamps in Greek mythology | Obsolete |
| Achillis Pons | əˈkɪlɨs ˈpɒnz | "Bridge of Achilles" | Obsolete |
| Mare Acidalium | ˈmɛəriː ˌæsɨˈdeɪliəm | "Sea of Acidalia", named for the fountain Acidalia where the Graces bathed | Acidalia Colles, Acidalia Mensa, Acidalia Planitia |
| Æolis | ˈiːəlɨs | a modification of Aeolia, the name of the floating western island of Aiolos, the ruler of the winds | Aeolis Mensae, Aeolis Planum |
| Aëria | eɪˈɪəriə | From a poetic name for Egypt | Aeria, IAU recognized albedo feature |
| Ætheria | ɨˈθɪəriə | – the land of the living, as referred to in Virgil's Aeneid | Aetheria, IAU recognized albedo feature |
| Æthiopis | ɨˈθaɪəpɨs | Land of the Ethiopians | Aethiopis, IAU recognized albedo feature |
| Aganippe Fons | ˌæɡəˈnɪpiː ˈfɒnz | "Aganippe's Fountain", legendary home of a Greek naiad | Aganippe Fossa |
| Alcyonia | ˌælsiːˈoʊniə | Land of kingfishers. | Obsolete |
| Amazonis | əˈmæzənɨs | "Land of the Amazon", legendary warrior women | Amazonis Mensa, Amazonis Planitia, Amazonis Sulci |
| Amenthes | əˈmɛnθiːz | Alternate name for Duat, the Egyptian land of the dead | Amenthes Cavi, Amenthes Fossae, Amenthes Planum, Amenthes Rupes |
| Ammonium | əˈmoʊniəm | Ancient name for the Siwa Oasis | Obsolete |
| Mare Amphitrites | ˈmɛəriː ˌæmfɨˈtraɪtiːz | "Sea of Amphitrite", a Greek sea-goddess | Amphitrites Patera |
| Lucus Angitiæ | ˈljuːkəs ænˈdʒɪʃɪiː | "Grove of Angitia", named after the snake goddess | Obsolete |
| Depressiones Aoniæ | dɨˌprɛʃiːˈoʊniːz eɪˈoʊniːi | "Lowlands of the Muses", who came from Helicon in Aonia[citation needed] | Obsolete |
| Aonius Sinus | eɪˈoʊniəs ˈsaɪnəs | "Bay of the Muses"[citation needed] | Aonia Planum, Aonia Terra |
| Aponi Fons | ˈæpənaɪ ˈfɒnz | Roman name for the Bagni d'Abano, warm-water baths near Padua | Obsolete |
| Aquæ Apollinares | ˈeɪkwiː əˌpɒlɨˈnɛəriːz | "Apollo's Waters"; Roman name for the Bagni di Stigliano baths in Canale Monterano, Tuscany[citation needed] | Obsolete |
| Aquæ Calidæ | ˈeɪkwiː ˈkælɨdiː | "Hot spring" | Obsolete |
| Aquarii Depressio | əˈkwɛəri.aɪ dɨˈprɛʃi.oʊ | "Lowland of Aquarius" | Obsolete |
| Arabia | əˈreɪbiə | Arabian peninsula | Arabia Terra |
| Arachoti Fons | ˌærəˈkoʊtaɪ ˈfɒnz | "Fountain of Arachotus", a river in Afghanistan[citation needed] | Obsolete |
| Aram | ˈɛərəm | Aram, Biblical land of the Aramaeans | Aram Chaos |
| Arcadia | ɑrˈkeɪdiə | From Arcadia, a region of the central Peloponnesus | Arcadia Dorsa, Arcadia Chaos |
| Arduenna | ˌɑrdjuːˈɛnə | Latin names for the Ardennes forests | Obsolete |
| Arethusa Fons | ˌærɨˈθjuːzə ˈfɒnz | "Arethusa's Fountain", after the Greek nymph | Obsolete |
| Ariadnes Depressio | ˌæriˈædniːz dɨˈprɛʃioʊ | "Lowland of Ariadne", a Greek heroine | Ariadnes Colles |
| Argyre I | ˈɑrdʒɨriː ˈpraɪmə | "First Silver Land", a mythical island in Greek mythology | Argyre Cavi, Argyre Planitia, Argyre Rupes |
| Argyre II | ˈɑrdʒɨriː sɨˈkʌndə | "Second Silver Land" (see above) | Obsolete |
| Argyroporos | ˌɑrdʒɨˈrɒpərɒs | "Silver Strait" | Obsolete |
| Aromatum Promontorium | əˈrɒmətəm ˌprɒmənˈtɔəriəm | "Cape of Fragrant Spices"[citation needed] | Aromatum Chaos |
| Arsia Silva | ˈɑrʃiə ˈsɪlvə | Arsia Silva, forest northwest of Rome where the Tarquinii were defeated | Arsia Chasmata, Arsia Mons, Arsia Sulci |
| Arsinoës Depressio | ɑrˈsɪnoʊiːz dɨˈprɛʃioʊ | Lowland of Arsinoë, the name of various Greek and Egyptian figures | Arsinoes Chaos |
| Artynia Fons | ɑrˈtɪniə fɒnz | "Artynia's Fountain", referring to Lake Artynia in Asia Minor | Artynia Catena |
| Aryn Promontorium | ˈɛərɨn ˌprɒmənˈtɔəriəm | "Cape of Aryn" | Obsolete |
| Fastigium Aryn | fæsˈtɪdʒiəm ˈɛərɨn | "Summit of Aryn" | Obsolete |
| Ascræus Lacus | æsˈkriːəs ˈleɪkəs | "Ascraeus Lake", a poetic paraphase of "heliconian" or "rural"[citation needed] | Ascraeus Chasmata, Ascraeus Mons, Ascraeus Sulci |
| Astræ Lacus | ˈæstriː ˈleɪkəs | "Lake of the Astra", Greek star-gods[citation needed] | Obsolete |
| Atalantes Depressio | ætˈlæntiːz dɨˈprɛʃioʊ | Lowland of Atalanta, Greek heroine | Obsolete |
| Nix Atlantica | ˈnɪks ætˈlæntɨkə | "Snows of Atlas",[citation needed] a Titan in Greek mythology | Obsolete |
| Atlantidum Sinus | ætˈlæntɨdəm ˈsaɪnəs | "Bay of the Atlantises" (just south of Atlantis I and II, see below) | Obsolete |
| Atlantis I | ætˈlæntɨs ˈpraɪmə | "First Atlantis", mythical drowned land | Atlantis Chaos |
| Atlantis II | ætˈlæntɨs sɨˈkʌndə | "Second Atlantis" (see above) | Atlantis Chaos |
| Augila | ˈɔːdʒɨlə | Awjila, a city in Cyrenaica | Obsolete |
| Aurea Cherso | ˈɔriə ˈkɛrsoʊ | "Golden Peninsula", ancient name for the Malay Peninsula | Obsolete |
| Aureum Cornu | ˈɔriəm ˈkɔrnjuː | "Golden Horn", inlet dividing Constantinople | Aureum Chaos |
| Auroræ Sinus | ɒˈrɔəriː ˈsaɪnəs | "Bay of the Dawn" | Aurorae Planum, Aurorae Chaos |
| Ausonia | ɒˈzoʊniə | From a poetic name for Italy | Ausonia Cavus, Ausonia Mensa, Ausonia Montes |
| Mare Australe | ˈmɛəriː ɒsˈtreɪliː | "Southern Sea" | Chasma Australe, Australe Lingula, Australe Mensa, Australe Montes, Planum Australe, Australe Scopuli, Australe Sulci |
B-E
| Name | Pronunciation | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltia | ˈbælʃiə | From a name for the regions near the Baltic Sea | Baltia, IAU recognized albedo feature |
| Bandusiæ Fons | bænˈdjuːʒɪiː ˈfɒnz | "Fountain of Bandusia", title of a poem by Horace | Obsolete |
| Bathys Portus | ˈbeɪθɨs ˈpɔrtəs | "Deep Harbor", the port of Aulis in Boeotia[citation needed] | Bathys Planum, changed to Icaria Planum |
| Benacus Lacus | bɨˈneɪkəs ˈleɪkəs | "Lake Benacus" (Lago di Garda in northern Italy) | Obsolete |
| Biblis Fons | ˈbɪblɨs ˈfɒnz | "Biblis Fountain", a Carian well near Miletus[citation needed] | Biblis Patera, Biblis Tholus |
| Bosporium Promontorium | bɒsˈpɔəriəm ˌprɒmənˈtɔəriəm | "Cape of the Bosphorus" | |
| Bosporus/Bosphorus Gemmatus | ˈbɒspərəs / ˈbɒsfərəs dʒɨˈmeɪtəs | "Bejewelled Bosphorus" | Bosporos Planum, Bosporus Regio, Bosporos Rupes |
| Brangæna | brænˈdʒiːnə | Obsolete | |
| Castalia Fons | kæsˈteɪliə fɒnz | ||
| Cebrenia | sɨˈbriːniə | ||
| Cecropia | sɨˈkroʊpiə | "Land of Cecrops" | |
| Ceraunius | sɨˈrɔːniəs | ||
| Chalce | ˈkælsiː | ||
| Charitum Promontorium | ˈkærɨtəm ˌprɒmənˈtɔəriəm | "Cape of the Graces" | |
| Chironis Fretum | kaɪˈroʊnɨs ˈfriːtəm | "Strait of Chiron" | |
| Mare Chronium | ˈmɛəriː ˈkroʊniəm | ||
| Chryse | ˈkraɪsiː | Chryse was an island rich in gold in the Far East of Erythraeum | Chryse Planitia |
| Chrysokeras | krɨˈsɒkɨrəs | The Golden Horn | |
| Cimmeria Insula | sɨˈmɪəriə ˈɪnsjʊlə | "Cimmerian Island" | |
| Mare Cimmerium | ˈmɛəriː sɨˈmɪəriəm | "Cimmerian Sea", named after an ancient Thracian seafaring people | Terra Cimmeria |
| Circaeum Promontorium | sərˈsiːəm ˌprɒmənˈtɔəriəm | "Cape of Circe" | |
| Clepsydra Fons | klɛpˈsaɪdrə ˈfɒnz | "Water-clock fountain", a well in the Athenian acropolis. | |
| Coracis Portus | ˈkɒrəsɨs ˈpɔrtəs | "Haven of Corax" | |
| Cyane Fons | ˈsaɪəniː ˈfɒnz | "Cyane fountain", a spring in Sicily from which the Cyane river sprang, named for a nymph. | |
| Cydonia | saɪˈdoʊniə | poetic name for Crete | Cydonia, Cydonia Mensae, Cydonia Labyrinthus, Cydonia Colles |
| Cynia Lacus | |||
| Danaïdum Depressio | dəˈneɪədəm dɨˈprɛʃioʊ | "Lowland of the daughters of Danaüs" | |
| Daphne | ˈdæfniː | From Daphne ("bay laurel"), a nymph pursued by Apollo. | |
| Deucalionis Regio | ˌdjʊkeɪliːˈoʊnɨs ˈriːdʒioʊ | "Region of Deucalion" | |
| Dia | ˈdaɪə | An island north of Crete | |
| Diacria | daɪˈeɪkriə | A region of Euboea | |
| Dioscuria | ˌdaɪəsˈkjʊəriə | "Land of the Dioscuri" | |
| Eden | ˈiːdən | From Eden, the biblical paradise | |
| Edom | ˈiːdəm | From Edom, an ancient kingdom in modern Jordan | |
| Edom Promontorium | ˈidəm ˌprɒmənˈtɔəriəm | "Cape of Edom" | |
| Electris | ɨˈlɛktrɨs | The principal island of the "Electrides", islands said to produce amber. | |
| Elysium | ɨˈlɪʒiəm | From Elysium, the Greek land of dead heroes | Elysium Planitia, Elysium Mons, Elysium Fossae |
| Eridania | ˌɛrɨˈdeɪniə | Land of the River Eridanus | |
| Mare Erythræum | ˈmɛəriː ˌɛrɨˈθriːəm | "Red Sea" |
F-L
| Name | Pronunciation | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Famæ Depressio | ˈfeɪmiː dɨˈprɛʃioʊ | "Lowland of Fame" | |
| Ferentinæ Lucus | ˌfɛrɨnˈtaɪniː ˈljuːkəs | "Grove of Ferentina" | |
| Lucus Feronia | "Grove of Wild Beasts" | ||
| Flevo Lacus | ˈfliːvoʊ ˈleɪkəs | ||
| Gallinaria Silva | ˌɡælɨˈnɛəriə ˈsɪlvə | ||
| Mare Hadriaticum | ˈmɛəriː ˌheɪdriːˈætɨkəm | "Adriatic Sea" Aka Hadriaticum Mare | |
| Hammonis Cornu | həˈmoʊnɨs ˈkɔrnjuː | "Horn of Ammon" | |
| Hellas | ˈhɛləs | "Greece" | Hellas Planitia, Hellas Montes, |
| Heræum Promontorium | hɨˈriːəm ˌprɒmənˈtɔəriəm | "Cape of Hera" | |
| Hercynia Silva | hɜrˈsɪniə ˈsɪlvə | Hercynian Forest | |
| Herculis Columnæ | ˈhɜrkjʊlɨs kɒˈlʌmni | "Pillars of Hercules" | |
| Herculis Pons | ˈhɜrkjʊlɨs ˈpɒnz | "Bridge of Hercules" | |
| Hesperia | hɛsˈpɪəriə | "Land of Dawn" | Hesperia Planum |
| Hesperidum Lacus | hɛsˈpɛrɨdəm ˈleɪkəs | "Lake of the Hesperides | |
| Hibe | ˈhaɪbiː | ||
| Hippocrene Fons | ˌhɪpəˈkriːniː ˈfɒnz | "Fountain of Hippocrene", near Mount Helicon | |
| Hipponitis Palus | |||
| Horarum Promontorium | hɒˈrɛərəm ˌprɒmənˈtɔəriəm | "Cape of the Hours" | |
| Hypelaus | ˌhɪpɨˈliːəs | A fountain in Ephesus. | |
| Iapygia | ˌaɪəˈpɪdʒiə | Salento in Italy Aka Japygia | |
| Icaria | aɪˈkɛəriə | Icaria Fossae, Icaria Planum | |
| Mare Icarium | ˈmɛəriː aɪˈkɛəriəm | ||
| Ierne | aɪ.ˈɜrniː | A name for Ireland | |
| Isidis Regio | ˈɪsɨdɨs ˈriːdʒioʊ | "Region of Isis" | Isidis Planitia |
| Ismenius Lacus | ɨzˈmiːniəs ˈleɪkəs | a.k.a. Lacus Ismenius | |
| Jani Fretum | ˈdʒeɪnaɪ ˈfriːtəm | "Strait of Janus" | Iani Chaos |
| Juventæ Fons | dʒʊˈvɛntiː ˈfɒnz | "Fountain of Youth" a.k.a. Fons Juventæ | |
| Labeatis Lacus | leɪbiːˈeɪtɨs ˈleɪkəs | Lake of the Labeates, a people of Illyria | |
| Lausonius Lacus | |||
| Lemuria | lɨˈmjʊəriə | From Lemuria, a fictional sunken land in the Pacific or Indian Ocean | |
| Lerne | ˈlɜrniː | ||
| Libya | ˈlɪbiə | "Libya" | Libya Montes |
| Lucrinus Lacus | The Lucrine Lake in Roman Italy | ||
| Lunæ Lacus | ˈljuːniː ˈleɪkəs | "Lake of the Moon" a.k.a. Lacus Lunæ | Lunae Palus quadrangle |
M-N
| Name | Pronunciation | Meaning | Modern name(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mæisia Silva | |||
| Mapharitis | |||
| Mareotis | ˌmæriːˈoʊtɨs | "Land about Mareota", in Lower Egypt. | |
| Margaritifer Sinus | ˌmarɡəˈrɪtɨfər ˈsaɪnəs | "Pearlbearing Bay" | Margaritifer Terra, Margaritifer Sinus quadrangle |
| Lucus Maricæ | ˈljuːkəs məˈraɪsiː | "Grove of Maríca", a nymph of Latium. | |
| Memnonia | mɛmˈnoʊniə | "Land of Memnon[disambiguation needed]" | Memnonia quadrangle |
| Meroë Insula | ˈmɛroʊ.iː ˈɪnsjʊlə | "Island of Meroe" | |
| Messeis Fons | |||
| Lacus Mœris | ˈleɪkəs ˈmɪərɨs | Lake Moeris, a lake in the Egyptian Fayum | |
| Mons Argenteus | ˈmɒnz ɑrˈdʒɛntiəs | "Silver mountain" | |
| Neith Regio | ˈniːθ ˈriːdʒioʊ | "Region of Neith" | |
| Nepheles Depressio | ˈnɛfɨliːz dɨˈprɛʃioʊ | "Lowland of cloud" | |
| Nereïdum Promontorium | nɨˈriː.ɨdəm ˌprɒmənˈtɔəriəm | "Cape of the Nereids | |
| Nerigos | ˈnɛrɨɡɒs | Name of a fictional country, supposedly in or near Scandinavia | |
| Nessonis Lacus | |||
| Niliacus Lacus | nɨˈlaɪəkəs ˈleɪkəs | "Lake of the Nile" | |
| Nitriæ | ˈnaɪtrɪ.iː | ||
| Nix Atlantica | ˈnɪks ætˈlæntɨkə | "Atlantic Snow" | |
| Nix Olympica | ˈnɪks ɒˈlɪmpɨkə | "Olympian Snow" | Olympus Mons |
| Noachis | ˈnoʊ.əkɨs | "Land of Noah" | Noachis quadrangle, Noachis Terra |
| Nodus Gordii | ˈnoʊdəs ˈɡɔrdiaɪ | "Gordian Knot" | |
| Noti Sinus | ˈnoʊtaɪ ˈsaɪnəs | "Bay of Notus" | |
| Novissima Thyle | nɵˈvɪsɨmə ˈθaɪli | "Newest Thule" | |
| Nuba Lacus | ˈnjuːbə ˈleɪkəs |
O-S
| Name | Pronunciation | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mare Oceanidum | ˈmɛəriː ˌoʊʃiːˈænɨdəm | "Sea of the Oceanids" | |
| Octantis Depressio | ɒkˈtæntɨs dɨˈprɛʃioʊ | "Lowland of Octans" | |
| Œnotria | ɨˈnoʊtriə | ||
| Ogygis Regio | ˈɒdʒɨdʒɨs ˈriːdʒioʊ | "Region of Ogyges" | |
| Ophir | ˈoʊfər | From Ophir, a biblical land of gold | |
| Ortygia | ɔrˈtɪdʒiə | ||
| Oxia Palus | ˈɒkʃiə ˈpeɪləs | Oxeia, a Greek Island in Ionian Sea | Oxia Palus quadrangle |
| Palicorum Lacus | ˌpælɨˈkɔərəm ˈleɪkəs | ||
| Palinuri Fretum | ˌpælɨˈnjʊəraɪ ˈfriːtəm | "Strait of Palinurus" | |
| Palinuri Sinus | ˌpælɨˈnjʊraɪ ˈsaɪnəs | "Bay of Palinurus" | |
| Pallas Lacus | ˌpæləs ˈleɪkəs | ||
| Panchaia | pæŋˈkeɪə | From the name of an island supposed to be in South Arabia | |
| Phaëthontis | ˌfeɪ.ɨˈθɒntɨs | "Land of Phaethon" | |
| Phlegra | ˈfliːɡrə | From a district in Macedonia. | |
| Campi Phlegræi | ˈkæmpaɪ flɨˈɡriːaɪ | "Fields of Phlegra" | |
| Phœnicis Lacus | fɨˈnaɪsɨs ˈleɪkəs | "Lake of the Phoenix" a.k.a. Lacus Phœnicis | Phoenicis Lacus quadrangle |
| Phrixi Regio | ˈfrɪksaɪ ˈriːdʒioʊ | "Region of Phrixus" | |
| Piscis Depressio | ˈpaɪsɨs dɨˈprɛʃioʊ | "Depression of the Fish" | |
| Depressio Pontica | dɨˈprɛʃi.oʊ ˈpɒntɨkə | "Lowland of Pontus" | |
| Promethei Sinus | prɵˈmiːθi.aɪ ˈsaɪnəs | "Bay of Prometheus" | Promethei Terra |
| Propontis | prɵˈpɒntɨs | From an old name for the Sea of Marmara | |
| Protei Regio | ˈproʊti.aɪ ˈriːdʒi.oʊ | "Region of Proteus" | |
| Pyrrhæ Regio | ˈpɪri ˈriːdʒioʊ | "Region of Pyrrha" | |
| Sinus Sabæus | ˈsaɪnəs səˈbiːəs | "Bay of Sheba" Aka Sabaeus Sinus | Terra Sabaea, Sinus Sabaeus quadrangle |
| Scandia | ˈskændiə | From a name for Skåne or Scandinavia | |
| Scheria Insula | ˈskɪəriə ˈɪnsjʊlə | "Scheria Island" | |
| Semiramidis Lacus | ˌsɛmɨˈræmɨdɨs ˈleɪkəs | "Lake of Semiramis" | |
| Serapium | |||
| Simoëntis Sinus | ˌsɪmoʊˈɛntɨs ˈsaɪnəs | "Bay of Simois" | |
| Sirbonis Lacus | |||
| Mare Sirenum | ˈmɛəriː saɪˈriːnəm | "Sea of Sirens" | Terra Sirenum |
| Socratis Promontorium | ˈsɒkrətɨs ˌprɒmənˈtɔəriəm | "Cape of Socrates" | |
| Solis Fons | ˈsoʊlɨs ˈfɒnz | "Fountain of the Sun" | |
| Solis Lacus | ˈsoʊlɨs ˈleɪkəs | "Lake of the Sun" | Solis Planum |
| Syrtis Major | ˈsɜrtɨs ˈmeɪdʒər | a Libyan gulf, now Gulf of Sidra | Syrtis Major Planum, Syrtis Major quadrangle |
| Syrtis Minor | ˈsɜrtɨs ˈmaɪnər | a.k.a. Syrtis Parva |
T-Z
| Name | Pronunciation | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tempe | ˈtɛmpiː | Vale of Tempe, Greece | Tempe Terra |
| Tharsis | ˈθɑrsɨs | "Tarshish" (Tartessos) | Tharsis Montes, Tharsis quadrangle |
| Thaumasia | θɔːˈmeɪʒə | "Land of Wonders" | Thaumasia quadrangle |
| Thyle I | ˈθaɪliː ˈpraɪmə | "First Thule" | |
| Thyle II | ˈθaɪliː sɨˈkʌndə | "Second Thule" | |
| Thyles Collis | ˈθaɪliːz ˈkɒlɨs | "Hill of Thule" | |
| Thyles Mons | ˈθaɪliːz ˈmɒnz | "Mountain of Thule" | |
| Thymiamata | ˌθɪmiˈæmətə | "Incenses" | |
| Tiphys Fretum | ˈtaɪfɨs ˈfriːtəm | ||
| Titanum Sinus | taɪˈteɪnəm ˈsaɪnəs | "Bay of the Titans" | |
| Tithonius Lacus | tɨˈθoʊniəs ˈleɪkəs | ||
| Trinythios | |||
| Trivii Fons | ˈtrɪvi.aɪ ˈfɒnz | "Fountain of the Crossroads" (east of Trivium Charontis) | |
| Trivium Charontis | ˈtrɪviəm kəˈrɒntɨs | "Crossroads of Charon" | |
| Mare Tyrrhenum | ˈmɛəriː tɨˈriːnəm | "Tyrrhenian Sea" | Mare Tyrrhenum quadrangle, Tyrrhenus Mons, Tyrrhena Terra |
| Uchronia | jʊˈkroʊniə | "Nowhen" | |
| Ulyxis Fretum | jʊˈlɪksɨs ˈfriːtəm | "Strait of Ulysses" | |
| Utopia | jʊˈtoʊpiə | "Nowhere, Utopia" | Utopia Planitia |
| Vulcani Pelagus | vʌlˈkeɪnaɪ ˈpɛləɡəs | "Sea of Vulcan" | |
| Xanthi Sinus | ˈzænθaɪ ˈsaɪnəs | "Bay of Xanthus" | Xanthe Terra |
| Xisuthri Regio | zɨˈsuːθraɪ ˈriːdʒi.oʊ | "Region of Xisuthrus" | |
| Yaonis Regio | ˈjeɪ.ənɨs ˈriːdʒi.oʊ | "Region of Emperor Yao" | |
| Zephyria | zɨˈfɪriə | "Land of the West Wind (Zephyr)" |
See also
Notes
- ↑ United States Geological Survey Astrogeology Program, "Mars Nomenclature: Albedo Feature", Gazeteer of Planetary Nomenclature.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
References
- The Origins of Martian Nomenclature, T. L. MacDonald, 1971.
- The Planet Mars: A History of Observation and Discovery, William Sheehan.
- USGS Astrologeology Program, Martian Nomenclature
