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.
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 (/ˈkɜːrsoʊ/) - peninsula
- Cornu (/ˈkɒrnjuː/) - horn, peninsula
- Depressio (/dɪˈprɛʃioʊ/) - lowland
- Fastigium (/fæsˈtɪdʒiəm/) - summit
- Fons (/ˈfɒnz/) – fountain
- Fretum (/ˈfriːtəm/) – strait
- Insula (/ˈɪns[invalid input: 'jᵿ']lə/) – island
- Lacus (/ˈleɪkəs/) - lake
- Lucus (/ˈljuːkəs/) - grove
- Mare (/ˈmɑːriː, ˈmɛəriː/) – sea
- Nix (/ˈnɪks/) – snow
- Palus (/ˈpeɪləs/) - marsh
- Pons (/ˈpɒnz/) – bridge
- Promontorium (/ˌprɒmənˈtɔːriəm/) – cape
- Regio (/ˈriːdʒioʊ/) - region
- Silva (/ˈsɪlvə/) - wood
- Sinus (/ˈsaɪnəs/) – bay
List of albedo features
 | This article is missing information about section. (March 2012) |
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 | /ˌækiːˈɔːrəm ˈpɔːrtəs/ | "Harbor of the Achaeans" | Obsolete |
| Acherusia Palus | /ˌækɪˈruːʒiə ˈpeɪləs/ | "Marsh of Acherusia", named after the legendary swamps in Greek mythology | Obsolete |
| Achillis Pons | /əˈkɪlɪs ˈpɒnz/ | "Bridge of Achilles" | Obsolete |
| Mare Acidalium | /ˈmɛəriː ˌæsɪˈdeɪliəm/ | "Sea of Acidalia", named for the fountain Acidalia where the Graces bathed | Acidalia Colles, Acidalia Mensa, Acidalia Planitia |
| Æolis | /ˈiːəlɪs/ | 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 | /ɪˈθɪəriə/ | – the land of the living, as referred to in Virgil's Aeneid | Aetheria, IAU recognized albedo feature |
| Æthiopis | /ɪˈθaɪəpɪs/ | 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 | /əˈmæzənɪs/ | "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 ˌæmfɪˈtraɪtiːz/ | "Sea of Amphitrite", a Greek sea-goddess | Amphitrites Patera |
| Lucus Angitiæ | /ˈljuːkəs ænˈdʒɪʃɪiː/ | "Grove of Angitia", named after the snake goddess | Obsolete |
| Depressiones Aoniæ | /dɪˌprɛʃiːˈoʊniːz 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 əˌpɒlɪˈnɛəriːz/ | "Apollo's Waters"; Roman name for the Bagni di Stigliano baths in Canale Monterano, Tuscany[citation needed] | Obsolete |
| Aquæ Calidæ | /ˈeɪkwiː ˈkælɪdiː/ | "Hot spring" | Obsolete |
| Aquarii Depressio | /əˈkwɛəriaɪ dɪˈprɛʃioʊ/ | "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 | /ɑːrˈkeɪdiə/ | From Arcadia, a region of the central Peloponnesus | Arcadia Dorsa, Arcadia Chaos |
| Arduenna | /ˌɑːrdjuːˈɛnə/ | Latin names for the Ardennes forests | Obsolete |
| Arethusa Fons | /ˌærɪˈθjuːzə ˈfɒnz/ | "Arethusa's Fountain", after the Greek nymph | Obsolete |
| Ariadnes Depressio | /ˌæriˈædniːz dɪˈprɛʃioʊ/ | "Lowland of Ariadne", a Greek heroine | Ariadnes Colles |
| Argyre I | /ˈɑːrdʒɪriː ˈpraɪmə/ | "First Silver Land", a mythical island in Greek mythology | Argyre Cavi, Argyre Planitia, Argyre Rupes |
| Argyre II | /ˈɑːrdʒɪriː sɪˈkʌndə/ | "Second Silver Land" (see above) | Obsolete |
| Argyroporos | /ˌɑːrdʒɪˈrɒpərɒs/ | "Silver Strait" | Obsolete |
| Aromatum Promontorium | /əˈrɒmətəm ˌprɒmənˈtɔːriəm/ | "Cape of Fragrant Spices"[citation needed] | Aromatum Chaos |
| Arsia Silva | /ˈɑːrʃiə ˈsɪlvə/ | Arsia Silva, forest northwest of Rome where the Tarquinii were defeated | Arsia Chasmata, Arsia Mons, Arsia Sulci |
| Arsinoës Depressio | /ɑːrˈsɪnoʊiːz dɪˈprɛʃioʊ/ | Lowland of Arsinoë, the name of various Greek and Egyptian figures | Arsinoes Chaos |
| Artynia Fons | /ɑːrˈtɪniə fɒnz/ | "Artynia's Fountain", referring to Lake Artynia in Asia Minor | Artynia Catena |
| Aryn Promontorium | /ˈɛərɪn ˌprɒmənˈtɔːriəm/ | "Cape of Aryn" | Obsolete |
| Fastigium Aryn | /fæsˈtɪdʒiəm ˈɛərɪn/ | "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 dɪˈprɛʃioʊ/ | Lowland of Atalanta, Greek heroine | Obsolete |
| Nix Atlantica | /ˈnɪks ætˈlæntɪkə/ | "Snows of Atlas",[citation needed] a Titan in Greek mythology | Obsolete |
| Atlantidum Sinus | /ætˈlæntɪdəm ˈsaɪnəs/ | "Bay of the Atlantises" (just south of Atlantis I and II, see below) | Obsolete |
| Atlantis I | /ætˈlæntɪs ˈpraɪmə/ | "First Atlantis", mythical drowned land | Atlantis Chaos |
| Atlantis II | /ætˈlæntɪs sɪˈkʌndə/ | "Second Atlantis" (see above) | Atlantis Chaos |
| Augila | /ˈɔːdʒɪlə/ | Awjila, a city in Cyrenaica | Obsolete |
| Aurea Cherso | /ˈɔːriə ˈkɜːrsoʊ/ | "Golden Peninsula", ancient name for the Malay Peninsula | Obsolete |
| Aureum Cornu | /ˈɔːriəm ˈkɔːrnjuː/ | "Golden Horn", inlet dividing Constantinople | Aureum Chaos |
| Auroræ Sinus | /ɒˈrɔːriː 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 | /ˈbeɪθɪs ˈpɔːrtəs/ | "Deep Harbor", the port of Aulis in Boeotia[citation needed] | Bathys Planum, changed to Icaria Planum |
| Benacus Lacus | /bɪˈneɪkəs ˈleɪkəs/ | "Lake Benacus" (Lago di Garda in northern Italy) | Obsolete |
| Biblis Fons | /ˈbɪblɪs ˈfɒnz/ | "Biblis Fountain", a Carian well near Miletus[citation needed] | Biblis Patera, Biblis Tholus |
| Bosporium Promontorium | /bɒsˈpɔːriəm ˌprɒmənˈtɔːriəm/ | "Cape of the Bosphorus" | |
| Bosporus/Bosphorus Gemmatus | /ˈbɒspərəs, ˈbɒsfərəs dʒɪˈmeɪtəs/ | "Bejewelled Bosphorus" | Bosporos Planum, Bosporus Regio, Bosporos Rupes |
| Brangæna | /brænˈdʒiːnə/ | Obsolete | |
| Castalia Fons | /kæsˈteɪliə fɒnz/ | ||
| Cebrenia | /sɪˈbriːniə/ | ||
| Cecropia | /sɪˈkroʊpiə/ | "Land of Cecrops" | |
| Ceraunius | /sɪˈrɔːniəs/ | ||
| Chalce | /ˈkælsiː/ | ||
| Charitum Promontorium | /ˈkærɪtəm ˌprɒmənˈtɔːriəm/ | "Cape of the Graces" | |
| Chironis Fretum | /kaɪˈroʊnɪs 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 | /krɪˈsɒkɪrəs/ | The Golden Horn | |
| Cimmeria Insula | /sɪˈmɪəriə ˈɪns[invalid input: 'jᵿ']lə/ | "Cimmerian Island" | |
| Mare Cimmerium | /ˈmɛəriː sɪˈmɪəriəm/ | "Cimmerian Sea", named after an ancient Thracian seafaring people | Terra Cimmeria |
| Circaeum Promontorium | /sərˈsiːəm ˌprɒmənˈtɔːriəm/ | "Cape of Circe" | |
| Clepsydra Fons | /klɛpˈsaɪdrə ˈfɒnz/ | "Water-clock fountain", a well in the Athenian acropolis. | |
| Coracis Portus | /ˈkɒrəsɪs ˈpɔːrtəs/ | "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 dɪˈprɛʃioʊ/ | "Lowland of the daughters of Danaüs" | |
| Daphne | /ˈdæfniː/ | From Daphne ("bay laurel"), a nymph pursued by Apollo. | |
| Deucalionis Regio | /ˌd[invalid input: 'jᵿ']keɪliːˈoʊnɪs ˈriːdʒioʊ/ | "Region of Deucalion" | |
| Dia | /ˈdaɪə/ | An island north of Crete | |
| Diacria | /daɪˈeɪkriə/ | A region of Euboea | |
| Dioscuria | /ˌdaɪəsˈk[invalid input: 'jᵿ']əriə/ | "Land of the Dioscuri" | |
| Eden | /ˈiːdən/ | From Eden, the biblical paradise | |
| Edom | /ˈiːdəm/ | From Edom, an ancient kingdom in modern Jordan | |
| Edom Promontorium | /ˈidəm ˌprɒmənˈtɔːriəm/ | "Cape of Edom" | |
| Electris | /ɪˈlɛktrɪs/ | The principal island of the "Electrides", islands said to produce amber. | |
| Elysium | /ɪˈlɪʒiəm/ | From Elysium, the Greek land of dead heroes | Elysium Planitia, Elysium Mons, Elysium Fossae |
| Eridania | /ˌɛrɪˈdeɪniə/ | Land of the River Eridanus | |
| Mare Erythræum | /ˈmɛəriː ˌɛrɪˈθriːəm/ | "Red Sea" |
F-L
| Name | Pronunciation | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Famæ Depressio | /ˈfeɪmiː dɪˈprɛʃioʊ/ | "Lowland of Fame" | |
| Ferentinæ Lucus | /ˌfɛrɪnˈtaɪniː ˈljuːkəs/ | "Grove of Ferentina" | |
| Lucus Feronia | "Grove of Wild Beasts" | ||
| Flevo Lacus | /ˈfliːvoʊ ˈleɪkəs/ | ||
| Gallinaria Silva | /ˌɡælɪˈnɛəriə ˈsɪlvə/ | ||
| Mare Hadriaticum | /ˈmɛəriː ˌheɪdriːˈætɪkəm/ | "Adriatic Sea" Aka Hadriaticum Mare | |
| Hammonis Cornu | /həˈmoʊnɪs ˈkɔːrnjuː/ | "Horn of Ammon" | |
| Hellas | /ˈhɛləs/ | "Greece" | Hellas Planitia, Hellas Montes, |
| Heræum Promontorium | /hɪˈriːəm ˌprɒmənˈtɔːriəm/ | "Cape of Hera" | |
| Hercynia Silva | /hɜːrˈsɪniə ˈsɪlvə/ | Hercynian Forest | |
| Herculis Columnæ | /ˈhɜːrk[invalid input: 'jᵿ']lɪs kɒˈlʌmni/ | "Pillars of Hercules" | |
| Herculis Pons | /ˈhɜːrk[invalid input: 'jᵿ']lɪs ˈpɒnz/ | "Bridge of Hercules" | |
| Hesperia | /hɛsˈpɪəriə/ | "Land of Dawn" | Hesperia Planum |
| Hesperidum Lacus | /hɛsˈpɛrɪdəm ˈleɪkəs/ | "Lake of the Hesperides | |
| Hibe | /ˈhaɪbiː/ | ||
| Hippocrene Fons | /ˌhɪpəˈkriːniː ˈfɒnz/ | "Fountain of Hippocrene", near Mount Helicon | |
| Hipponitis Palus | |||
| Horarum Promontorium | /hɒˈrɛərəm ˌprɒmənˈtɔːriəm/ | "Cape of the Hours" | |
| Hypelaus | /ˌhɪpɪˈliːəs/ | A fountain in Ephesus. | |
| Iapygia | /ˌaɪəˈpɪdʒiə/ | Salento in Italy Aka Japygia | |
| Icaria | /aɪˈkɛəriə/ | Icaria Fossae, Icaria Planum | |
| Mare Icarium | /ˈmɛəriː aɪˈkɛəriəm/ | ||
| Ierne | /aɪˈɜːrniː/ | A name for Ireland | |
| Isidis Regio | /ˈɪsɪdɪs ˈriːdʒioʊ/ | "Region of Isis" | Isidis Planitia |
| Ismenius Lacus | /ɪzˈmiːniəs 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 | /leɪbiːˈeɪtɪs ˈleɪkəs/ | Lake of the Labeates, a people of Illyria | |
| Lausonius Lacus | |||
| Lemuria | /lɪˈmjʊəriə/ | From Lemuria, a fictional sunken land in the Pacific or Indian Ocean | |
| Lerne | /ˈlɜːrniː/ | ||
| 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 | /ˌmæriːˈoʊtɪs/ | "Land about Mareota", in Lower Egypt. | |
| Margaritifer Sinus | /ˌm[invalid input: 'ar']ɡəˈrɪtɪfər 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 | /ˈmɛroʊiː ˈɪns[invalid input: 'jᵿ']lə/ | "Island of Meroe" | |
| Messeis Fons | |||
| Lacus Mœris | /ˈleɪkəs ˈmɪərɪs/ | Lake Moeris, a lake in the Egyptian Fayum | |
| Mons Argenteus | /ˈmɒnz ɑːrˈdʒɛntiəs/ | "Silver mountain" | |
| Neith Regio | /ˈniːθ ˈriːdʒioʊ/ | "Region of Neith" | |
| Nepheles Depressio | /ˈnɛfɪliːz dɪˈprɛʃioʊ/ | "Lowland of cloud" | |
| Nereïdum Promontorium | /nɪˈriːɪdəm ˌprɒmənˈtɔːriəm/ | "Cape of the Nereids | |
| Nerigos | /ˈnɛrɪɡɒs/ | Name of a fictional country, supposedly in or near Scandinavia | |
| Nessonis Lacus | |||
| Niliacus Lacus | /nɪˈlaɪəkəs ˈleɪkəs/ | "Lake of the Nile" | |
| Nitriæ | /ˈnaɪtrɪiː/ | ||
| Nix Atlantica | /ˈnɪks ætˈlæntɪkə/ | "Atlantic Snow" | |
| Nix Olympica | /ˈnɪks ɒˈlɪmpɪkə/ | "Olympian Snow" | Olympus Mons |
| Noachis | /ˈnoʊəkɪs/ | "Land of Noah" | Noachis quadrangle, Noachis Terra |
| Nodus Gordii | /ˈnoʊdəs ˈɡɔːrdiaɪ/ | "Gordian Knot" | |
| Noti Sinus | /ˈnoʊtaɪ ˈsaɪnəs/ | "Bay of Notus" | |
| Novissima Thyle | /noʊˈvɪsɪmə ˈθaɪli/ | "Newest Thule" | |
| Nuba Lacus | /ˈnjuːbə ˈleɪkəs/ |
O-S
| Name | Pronunciation | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mare Oceanidum | /ˈmɛəriː ˌoʊʃiːˈænɪdəm/ | "Sea of the Oceanids" | |
| Octantis Depressio | /ɒkˈtæntɪs dɪˈprɛʃioʊ/ | "Lowland of Octans" | |
| Œnotria | /ɪˈnoʊtriə/ | ||
| Ogygis Regio | /ˈɒdʒɪdʒɪs ˈriːdʒioʊ/ | "Region of Ogyges" | |
| Ophir | /ˈoʊfər/ | From Ophir, a biblical land of gold | |
| Ortygia | /ɔːrˈtɪdʒiə/ | ||
| Oxia Palus | /ˈɒkʃiə ˈpeɪləs/ | Oxeia, a Greek Island in Ionian Sea | Oxia Palus quadrangle |
| Palicorum Lacus | /ˌpælɪˈkɔːrəm ˈleɪkəs/ | ||
| Palinuri Fretum | /ˌpælɪˈnjʊəraɪ ˈfriːtəm/ | "Strait of Palinurus" | |
| Palinuri Sinus | /ˌpælɪˈnjʊəraɪ ˈsaɪnəs/ | "Bay of Palinurus" | |
| Pallas Lacus | /ˌpæləs ˈleɪkəs/ | ||
| Panchaia | /pæŋˈkeɪə/ | From the name of an island supposed to be in South Arabia | |
| Phaëthontis | /ˌfeɪɪˈθɒntɪs/ | "Land of Phaethon" | |
| Phlegra | /ˈfliːɡrə/ | From a district in Macedonia. | |
| Campi Phlegræi | /ˈkæmpaɪ flɪˈɡriːaɪ/ | "Fields of Phlegra" | |
| Phœnicis Lacus | /fɪˈnaɪsɪs ˈleɪkəs/ | "Lake of the Phoenix" a.k.a. Lacus Phœnicis | Phoenicis Lacus quadrangle |
| Phrixi Regio | /ˈfrɪksaɪ ˈriːdʒioʊ/ | "Region of Phrixus" | |
| Piscis Depressio | /ˈpaɪsɪs dɪˈprɛʃioʊ/ | "Depression of the Fish" | |
| Depressio Pontica | /dɪˈprɛʃioʊ ˈpɒntɪkə/ | "Lowland of Pontus" | |
| Promethei Sinus | /proʊˈmiːθiaɪ ˈsaɪnəs/ | "Bay of Prometheus" | Promethei Terra |
| Propontis | /proʊˈpɒntɪs/ | From an old name for the Sea of Marmara | |
| Protei Regio | /ˈproʊtiaɪ ˈriːdʒioʊ/ | "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 ˈɪns[invalid input: 'jᵿ']lə/ | "Scheria Island" | |
| Semiramidis Lacus | /ˌsɛmɪˈræmɪdɪs ˈleɪkəs/ | "Lake of Semiramis" | |
| Serapium | |||
| Simoëntis Sinus | /ˌsɪmoʊˈɛntɪs ˈsaɪnəs/ | "Bay of Simois" | |
| Sirbonis Lacus | |||
| Mare Sirenum | /ˈmɛəriː saɪˈriːnəm/ | "Sea of Sirens" | Terra Sirenum |
| Socratis Promontorium | /ˈsɒkrətɪs ˌprɒmənˈtɔːriəm/ | "Cape of Socrates" | |
| Solis Fons | /ˈsoʊlɪs ˈfɒnz/ | "Fountain of the Sun" | |
| Solis Lacus | /ˈsoʊlɪs ˈleɪkəs/ | "Lake of the Sun" | Solis Planum |
| Syrtis Major | /ˈsɜːrtɪs ˈmeɪdʒər/ | a Libyan gulf, now Gulf of Sidra | Syrtis Major Planum, Syrtis Major quadrangle |
| Syrtis Minor | /ˈsɜːrtɪs ˈmaɪnər/ | a.k.a. Syrtis Parva |
T-Z
See also
Notes
- ^ United States Geological Survey Astrogeology Program, "Mars Nomenclature: Albedo Feature", Gazeteer of Planetary Nomenclature.
- ^ "Surface Features on Mars: Ground-Based Albedo and Radar Compared With Mariner 9 Topography". 79 (26). Journal of Geophysical Research. 1974: 3907–3916. Bibcode:1974JGR....79.3907F. doi:10.1029/JB079i026p03907.
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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
