Classical albedo

features on Mars

True color Enhanced

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

Observing albedo features …

Richard A. Proctor's map of Mars, which named

albedo features after astronomers. North is at the

bottom, as seen through an inverting telescope.

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 lighter and darker
patches 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 accordingly in
Latin (mare, lacus, palus etc.). Within a
few decades, however, most
astronomers came to agree 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 paler dust,
exposing a darker surface, often basaltic
rock; so their borders change in response
to windstorms on the Martian surface
that move the dust around, widening or
narrowing the features.

The dust-storms themselves also appear

as light patches, can cover vast areas
and sometimes last for many weeks;
when Mariner 9 arrived in Martian orbit in
November 1971 the entire planet was
covered by a single enormous dust-
storm, with only the peaks of the four or
five highest mountains showing above it.
This variability may explain many of the
differences between telescopic
observations over the years.

Early non-classical names …

The first map of Martian albedo features

was published in 1840 by Johann
Heinrich Mädler and Wilhelm Beer, but
they simply labelled the features a, b, c ...
without giving them names. Over the next
two decades the most prominent
features picked up various informal
names (such as the Hourglass Sea for
our Syrtis Major Planum) but there was
no overall system.
Nathaniel Green's 1877 Mars map, which used
many of Proctor's names. North is at the bottom.

The first astronomer to name Martian

albedo features systematically was
Richard A. Proctor, who in 1867 created a
map (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.
Proctor's names remained in use for
several decades, notably in several early
maps drawn by Camille Flammarion in
1876 and Nathaniel Green in 1877.

Schiaparelli's classical names …

Early Schiaparelli map, from an 1888 encyclopedia.

However, within a few decades Proctor's

names were superseded by a new
scheme devised by Giovanni Schiaparelli,
whose observations differed from
Proctor's, and who used this difference to
justify drawing up an entirely new system
of nomenclature. Schiaparelli was an
expert on ancient astronomy and
geography, and used Latin names, drawn
from the myths, history and geography of
classical antiquity; dark features were
named after ancient seas and rivers, light
areas after islands and legendary lands.

Early map by Flammarion and Antoniadi. North is at

the bottom.
When E. M. Antoniadi took over as the
leading telescopic observer of Mars in
the early 20th century, he followed
Schiaparelli's names rather than
Proctor's, and the Proctorian names
quickly became obsolete. In his
encyclopedic work La Planète Mars
(1930) Antoniadi used all Schiaparelli's
names and added more of his own from
the same classical sources. However,
there was still no 'official' system of
names for Martian features.

In 1958, the International Astronomical

Union set up an ad hoc committee under
Audouin Dollfus, which settled on a list of
128 officially recognised albedo features.
Of these, 105 came from Schiaparelli, 2
from Flammarion, 2 from Percival Lowell,
and 16 from Antoniadi, with an additional
3 from the committee itself. This
involved a considerable amount of
pruning; Antoniadi's La Planète Mars had
mentioned 558 named features.[1][2][3]

The pictures returned by interplanetary

spacecraft, notably the observations
made from Martian orbit by Mariner 9
over the course of 1972, have
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 the spacecraft. However, many of the
names used for topographic features on
Mars are still based on the classical
nomenclature for the feature's location;
for instance, the albedo feature 'Ascraeus
Lacus' provides the basis of the name of
the volcano Ascraeus Mons in roughly
the same position.

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 themselves and
record their observations.
Mars albedo features after the 1958 official list of
names, but before the 1972 observations of Mariner
9.

Common feature names

Classical albedo features on Mars, whose names
date back to Schiaparelli (1888 map above) share
some boundaries with more recent satellite
observations.[4]

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 (/ˈkɔːrnjuː/) - horn, peninsula
Depressio (/dɪˈprɛʃioʊ/) - lowland
Fastigium (/fæsˈtɪdʒiəm/) - summit
Fons (/ˈfɒnz/) – fountain
Fretum (/ˈfriːtəm/) – strait
Insula (/ˈɪnsjʊlə/) – island
Lacus (/ˈleɪkəs/) - lake
Lucus (/ˈljuːkəs/) - grove
Mare (/ˈmɑːri, ˈmɛəri/) – 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
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)

A no-longer existent
Abalos Colles, Abalos Mensa,
Abalos /ˈæbəlɒs/ island in the North Sea,
Abalos Scopuli, Abalos Undae
east of Heligoland

Achæorum /ˌækiːˈɔːrəm
"Harbor of the Achaeans" Obsolete
Portus ˈpɔːrtəs/

"Marsh of Acherusia",
Acherusia /ˌækɪˈruːʒiə named after the
Obsolete
Palus ˈpeɪləs/ legendary swamps in
Greek mythology

Achillis Pons /əˈkɪlɪs ˈpɒnz/ "Bridge of Achilles" Obsolete

"Sea of Acidalia", named

Mare /ˈmɛəriː Acidalia Colles, Acidalia Mensa,
for the fountain Acidalia
Acidalium ˌæsɪˈdeɪliəm/ Acidalia Planitia
where the Graces bathed

a modification of Aeolia,
the name of the floating
Æolis /ˈiːəlɪs/ Aeolis Mensae, Aeolis Planum
western island of Aiolos,
the ruler of the winds

From a poetic name for Aeria, IAU recognized albedo

Aëria /eɪˈɪəriə/
Egypt feature

– the land of the living, as

Aetheria, IAU recognized
Ætheria /ɪˈθɪəriə/ referred to in Virgil's
albedo feature
Aeneid

Aethiopis, IAU recognized

Æthiopis /ɪˈθaɪəpɪs/ Land of the Ethiopians
albedo feature

"Aganippe's Fountain",
Aganippe /ˌæɡəˈnɪpiː
legendary home of a Aganippe Fossa
Fons ˈfɒnz/
Greek naiad

Alcyonia /ˌælsiˈoʊniə/ Land of kingfishers. Obsolete

"Land of the Amazon", Amazonis Mensa, Amazonis

Amazonis /əˈmæzənɪs/
legendary warrior women Planitia, Amazonis Sulci

Alternate name for Duat, Amenthes Cavi, Amenthes

Amenthes /əˈmɛnθiːz/ the Egyptian land of the Fossae, Amenthes Planum,
dead Amenthes Rupes

Ammonium /əˈmoʊniəm/ Ancient name for the Obsolete

 Siwa Oasis

Mare /ˈmɛəriː "Sea of Amphitrite", a

Amphitrites Patera
Amphitrites ˌæmfɪˈtraɪtiːz/ Greek sea-goddess

/ˈljuːkəs "Grove of Angitia", named

Lucus Angitiæ Obsolete
ænˈdʒɪʃɪiː/ after the snake goddess

"Lowlands of the Muses",

Depressiones /dɪˌprɛʃiˈoʊniːz
who came from Helicon Obsolete
Aoniæ eɪˈoʊnɪiː/
in Aonia

/eɪˈoʊniəs Aonia Mons, Aonia Planum,

Aonius Sinus "Bay of the Muses"
ˈsaɪnəs/ Aonia Terra, Aonia Tholus

Roman name for the

Aponi Fons /ˈæpənaɪ ˈfɒnz/ Bagni d'Abano, warm- Obsolete
water baths near Padua

"Apollo's Waters"; Roman

Aquæ /ˈeɪkwiː name for the Bagni di
Obsolete
Apollinares əˌpɒlɪˈnɛəriːz/ Stigliano baths in Canale
Monterano, Tuscany

Aquæ Calidæ /ˈeɪkwiː ˈkælɪdiː/ "Hot spring" Obsolete

Aquarii /əˈkwɛəriaɪ
"Lowland of Aquarius" Obsolete
Depressio dɪˈprɛʃioʊ/

Arabia /əˈreɪbiə/ Arabian peninsula Arabia Terra

/ˌærəˈkoʊtaɪ "Fountain of Arachotus", a

Arachoti Fons Obsolete
ˈfɒnz/ river in Afghanistan

Aram, Biblical land of the

Aram /ˈɛərəm/ Aram Chaos
Aramaeans

From Arcadia, a region of Arcadia Chaos, Arcadia Dorsa,

Arcadia /ɑːrˈkeɪdiə/
the central Peloponnesus Arcadia Planitia

Latin names for the

Arduenna /ˌɑːrdjuˈɛnə/ Obsolete
Ardennes forests

/ˌærɪˈθjuːzə "Arethusa's Fountain",

Arethusa Fons Obsolete
ˈfɒnz/ after the Greek nymph

Argyre I /ˈɑːrdʒəriː One of a pair of legendary Argyre Cavi, Argyre Planitia,

ˈpraɪmə/ islands, Chryse and Argyre Rupes, Argyre
Argyre, located in the quadrangle
Indian Ocean and said to
 be made of gold and
silver

/ˈɑːrdʒəriː "Second Silver Land" (see

Argyre II Obsolete
sɪˈkʌndə/ above)

Argyroporos /ˌɑːrdʒɪˈrɒpərɒs/ "Silver Strait" Obsolete

Ariadnes /ˌæriˈædniːz "Lowland of Ariadne", a

Ariadnes Colles
Depressio dɪˈprɛʃioʊ/ Greek heroine

Aromatum /əˈrɒmətəm
"Cape of Fragrant Spices" Aromatum Chaos
Promontorium ˌprɒmənˈtɔːriəm/

Arsia Silva, forest

northwest of Rome where Arsia Chasmata, Arsia Mons,
Arsia Silva /ˈɑːrʃiə ˈsɪlvə/
the Tarquinii were Arsia Sulci
defeated

Lowland of Arsinoë, the

Arsinoës /ɑːrˈsɪnoʊiːz
name of various Greek Arsinoes Chaos
Depressio dɪˈprɛʃioʊ/
and Egyptian figures

"Artynia's Fountain",
Artynia Fons /ɑːrˈtɪniə fɒnz/ referring to Lake Artynia Artynia Catena
in Asia Minor

Aryn /ˈɛərɪn
"Cape of Aryn" Obsolete
Promontorium ˌprɒmənˈtɔːriəm/

Fastigium /fæsˈtɪdʒiəm
"Summit of Aryn" Obsolete
Aryn ˈɛərɪn/

"Ascraeus Lake", a poetic

Ascræus /æˈskriːəs Ascraeus Chasmata, Ascraeus
paraphase of "heliconian"
Lacus ˈleɪkəs/ Mons, Ascraeus Sulci
or "rural"

"Lake of the Astra", Greek

Astræ Lacus /ˈæstriː ˈleɪkəs/ Obsolete
star-gods

Atalantes /ætəˈlæntiːz Lowland of Atalanta,

Obsolete
Depressio dɪˈprɛʃioʊ/ Greek heroine

/ˈnɪks "Snows of Atlas", a Titan

Nix Atlantica Obsolete
ætˈlæntɪkə/ in Greek mythology

"Bay of the Atlantises"

Atlantidum /ætˈlæntɪdəm
(just south of Atlantis I Obsolete
Sinus ˈsaɪnəs/
and II, see below)
Atlantis I /ætˈlæntɪs "First Atlantis", mythical Atlantis Chaos
ˈpraɪmə/ drowned land

/ætˈlæntɪs "Second Atlantis" (see

Atlantis II Atlantis Chaos
sɪˈkʌndə/ above)

Augila /ˈɔːdʒələ/ Awjila, a city in Cyrenaica Obsolete

"Golden Peninsula",
Aurea Cherso /ˈɔːriːə ˈkɜːrsoʊ/ ancient name for the Obsolete
Malay Peninsula

/ˈɔːriːəm "Golden Horn", inlet

Aureum Cornu Aureum Chaos
ˈkɔːrnjuː/ dividing Constantinople

Aurorae Planum, Aurorae

Auroræ Sinus /ɔːˈrɔːriː ˈsaɪnəs/ "Bay of the Dawn"
Chaos

From a poetic name for Ausonia Cavus, Ausonia

Ausonia /ɔːˈzoʊniə/
Italy Mensa, Ausonia Montes

Chasma Australe, Australe

Lingula, Australe Mensa,
/ˈmɛəriː Australe Montes, Planum
Mare Australe "Southern Sea"
ɒsˈtreɪliː/ Australe, Australe Scopuli,
Australe Sulci, Mare Australe
quadrangle

B-E …
 Name Pronunciation Meaning Modern name(s)

Baltia, IAU
From a name for the regions
Baltia /ˈbælʃiə/ recognized albedo
near the Baltic Sea
feature

/bænˈdjuːʒɪiː "Fountain of Bandusia", title of a

Bandusiæ Fons Obsolete
ˈfɒnz/ poem by Horace

Bathys Planum,
"Deep Harbor", the port of Aulis
Bathys Portus /ˈbeɪθɪs ˈpɔːrtəs/ changed to Icaria
in Boeotia
Planum

/bɪˈneɪkəs "Lake Benacus" (Lago di Garda

Benacus Lacus Obsolete
ˈleɪkəs/ in northern Italy)

"Biblis Fountain", a Carian well Biblis Patera,

Biblis Fons /ˈbɪblɪs ˈfɒnz/
near Miletus Biblis Tholus

Bosporium /bɒsˈpɔːriəm
"Cape of the Bosphorus"
Promontorium ˌprɒmənˈtɔːriəm/

/ˈbɒspərəs, Bosporos Planum,

Bosporus/Bosphorus
ˈbɒsfərəs "Bejewelled Bosphorus" Bosporus Regio,
Gemmatus
dʒɪˈmeɪtəs/ Bosporos Rupes

Brangæna /brænˈdʒiːnə/ Obsolete

Capri Chasma,
Capri "Isle of Capri"
Capri Mensa

Mt Casius in Egypt, famous in

antiquity for the nearby coastal Casius
Casius
marshes in which whole armies quadrangle
were reputed to have drowned

/kæsˈteɪliə
Castalia Fons "Castalian Springs"
fɒnz/

Cebrenia
Cebrenia /sɪˈbriːniə/ Land of Cebrenia near Troy
quadrangle

Cecropia /sɪˈkroʊpiə/ "Land of Cecrops"

Ceraunius Catena,
Ceraunius /sɪˈrɔːniəs/
Ceraunius Fossae

Chalce /ˈkælsiː/ Chalce Montes

Charitum /ˈkærɪtəm "Cape of the Graces" Charitum Montes

Promontorium ˌprɒmənˈtɔːriəm/

/kaɪˈroʊnɪs
Chironis Fretum "Strait of Chiron"
ˈfriːtəm/

/ˈmɛəriː Planum Chronium,

Mare Chronium
ˈkroʊniəm/ Chronius Mons

One of a pair of legendary

islands, Chryse and Argyre, Chryse Chaos,
Chryse /ˈkraɪsiː/ located in the Indian Ocean and Chryse Colles,
said to be made of gold and Chryse Planitia
silver

Chrysokeras /krɪˈsɒkərəs/ The Golden Horn

/sɪˈmɪəriə
Cimmeria Insula "Cimmerian Island" Obsolete
ˈɪnsjʊlə/

"Cimmerian Sea", named after

/ˈmɛəriː
Mare Cimmerium an ancient Thracian seafaring Terra Cimmeria
sɪˈmɪəriəm/
people

Circaeum /sərˈsiːəm
"Cape of Circe"
Promontorium ˌprɒmənˈtɔːriəm/

Claritas Fossae,
Claritas Latin for "bright"
Claritas Rupes

/klɛpˈsaɪdrə "Water-clock fountain", a well in

Clepsydra Fons
ˈfɒnz/ the Athenian acropolis.

River Coprates, now called the Coprates

Coprates
Dez, in modern Iran quadrangle

/ˈkɒrəsɪs
Coracis Portus "Haven of Corax"
ˈpɔːrtəs/

"Cyane fountain", a spring in

Cyane Catena,
Cyane Fons /ˈsaɪəniː ˈfɒnz/ Sicily from which the Cyane river
Cyane Fossae
sprang, named for a nymph.

Cydonia, Cydonia
Mensae, Cydonia
Cydonia /saɪˈdoʊniə/ poetic name for Crete
Labyrinthus,
Cydonia Colles

Cynia Lacus

Danaïdum Depressio /dəˈneɪədəm "Lowland of the daughters of

 dɪˈprɛʃioʊ/ Danaüs"

From Daphne ("bay laurel"), a

Daphne /ˈdæfniː/
nymph pursued by Apollo.

/djuːˌkeɪliˈoʊnɪs
Deucalionis Regio "Region of Deucalion"
ˈriːdʒioʊ/

Dia /ˈdaɪə/ An island north of Crete

Diacria highlands around Diacria

Diacria /daɪˈeɪkriə/
Marathon quadrangle

Dioscuria /ˌdaɪəsˈkjʊəriə/ "Land of the Dioscuri"

Eden /ˈiːdən/ From Eden, the biblical paradise Eden Patera

From Edom, an ancient kingdom

Edom /ˈiːdəm/
in modern Jordan

/ˈiːdəm
Edom Promontorium "Cape of Edom"
ˌprɒmənˈtɔːriəm/

The principal island of the

Electris /ɪˈlɛktrɪs/ "Electrides", islands said to Electris Mons
produce amber.

Elysium Planitia,
Elysium Mons,
From Elysium, the Greek land of
Elysium /ɪˈlɪʒiəm/ Elysium Fossae,
dead heroes
Elysium
quadrangle

Eridania Mons,
Eridania Planitia,
Eridania /ˌɛrɪˈdeɪniə/ Land of the River Eridanus Eridania
quadrangle,
Eridania Scopulus

/ˈmɛəriː
Mare Erythræum "Red Sea" Erythraea Fossae
ˌɛrɪˈθriːəm/

F-L …
 Name Pronunciation Meaning Modern name(s)

Famæ /ˈfeɪmiː
"Lowland of Fame"
Depressio dɪˈprɛʃioʊ/

Ferentinæ /ˌfɛrɪnˈtaɪniː
"Grove of Ferentina"
Lucus ˈljuːkəs/

Lucus Feronia "Grove of Wild Beasts"

Flevo Lacus /ˈfliːvoʊ ˈleɪkəs/

Gallinaria /ˌɡælɪˈnɛəriə
Silva ˈsɪlvə/

Mare /ˈmɛəriː "Adriatic Sea" Aka Hadriacus Mons, Hadriaca

Hadriaticum ˌheɪdriˈætɪkəm/ Hadriaticum Mare Patera

Hammonis /həˈmoʊnɪs
"Horn of Ammon"
Cornu ˈkɔːrnjuː/

Hellas Planitia, Hellas

Hellas /ˈhɛləs/ "Greece"
Montes, Hellas quadrangle

Heræum /hɪˈriːəm
"Cape of Hera"
Promontorium ˌprɒmənˈtɔːriəm/

/hɜːrˈsɪniə
Hercynia Silva Hercynian Forest
ˈsɪlvə/

Herculis /ˈhɜːrkjʊlɪs
"Pillars of Hercules"
Columnæ kɒˈlʌmniː/

/ˈhɜːrkjʊlɪs
Herculis Pons "Bridge of Hercules"
ˈpɒnz/

Hesperia Dorsa, Hesperia

Hesperia /hɛsˈpɪəriə/ "Land of the Setting Sun"
Planum

Hesperidum /hɛsˈpɛrɪdəm
"Lake of the Hesperides
Lacus ˈleɪkəs/

Hibe /ˈhaɪbiː/

Hippocrene /ˌhɪpəˈkriːniː "Fountain of Hippocrene",

Fons ˈfɒnz/ near Mount Helicon

Hipponitis
Palus

Horarum /hɒˈrɛərəm
"Cape of the Hours" Horarum Mons
Promontorium ˌprɒmənˈtɔːriəm/
Hypelaus /ˌhɪpɪˈliːəs/ A fountain in Ephesus.

Hyperboreus Greek/Latin: Far Northern

Hyperboreae Undae
Lacus Lake

Salento in Italy, ancient

Iapygia /ˌaɪəˈpɪdʒiə/ Iapygia quadrangle
home of the Iapyges

Icaria /aɪˈkɛəriə/ Icaria Fossae, Icaria Planum

/ˈmɛəriː
Mare Icarium
aɪˈkɛəriəm/

Ierne /aɪˈɜːrniː/ A name for Ireland

/ˈɪsɪdɪs
Isidis Regio "Region of Isis" Isidis Planitia
ˈriːdʒioʊ/

The Ismenian Spring near Ismenia Patera, Ismeniae

Ismenius /ɪzˈmiːniəs
Thebes where Cadmus slew Fossae Ismenius Cavus,
Lacus ˈleɪkəs/
the guardian dragon Ismenius Lacus quadrangle

/ˈdʒeɪnaɪ
Jani Fretum "Strait of Janus" Iani Chaos
ˈfriːtəm/

/dʒuːˈvɛntiː "Fountain of Youth" a.k.a. Juventae Chasma, Juventae

Juventæ Fons
ˈfɒnz/ Fons Juventæ Dorsa

Labeatis /læbiːˈeɪtɪs Lake of the Labeates, a

Lacus ˈleɪkəs/ people of Illyria

Lausonius /lɔːˈsoʊniəs
Lacus ˈleɪkəs/

From Lemuria, a fictional

Lemuria /lɪˈmjʊəriə/ sunken land in the Pacific or
Indian Ocean

Lerne /ˈlɜːrniː/

Libya /ˈlɪbiə/ "Libya" Libya Montes

Lucrinus The Lucrine Lake in Roman

Lacus Italy

"Lake of the Moon" a.k.a. Lunae Palus quadrangle,

Lunæ Lacus /ˈljuːniː ˈleɪkəs/
Lacus Lunæ Lunae Planum

M-N …
 Name Pronunciation Meaning Modern name(s)

Mæisia Silva

Mapharitis

"Land about Mareota", in

Mareotis /ˌmæriːˈoʊtɪs/ Mareotis Fossae
Lower Egypt.

Margaritifer /ˌmɑːrɡəˈrɪtɪfər Margaritifer Terra, Margaritifer

"Pearlbearing Bay"
Sinus ˈsaɪnəs/ Sinus quadrangle

/ˈljuːkəs "Grove of Maríca", a nymph

Lucus Maricæ Lucus Planum
məˈraɪsiː/ of Latium.

Memnonia Fossae, Memnonia

Memnonia /mɛmˈnoʊniə/ "Land of Memnon"
quadrangle

/ˈmɛroʊiː
Meroë Insula "Island of Meroe" Meroe Patera
ˈɪnsjʊlə/

Messeis Fons

Lake Moeris, a lake in the

Lacus Mœris /ˈleɪkəs ˈmɪərɪs/
Egyptian Fayum

Mons /ˈmɒnz Dorsa Argentea, Argentea

"Silver mountain"
Argenteus ɑːrˈdʒɛntiːəs/ Planum

Neith Regio /ˈniːθ ˈriːdʒioʊ/ "Region of Neith"

Nepheles /ˈnɛfɪliːz
"Lowland of cloud"
Depressio dɪˈprɛʃioʊ/

Nereïdum /nɪˈriːɪdəm
"Cape of the Nereids Nereidum Montes
Promontorium ˌprɒmənˈtɔːriəm/

Name of a fictional country,

Nerigos /ˈnɛrɪɡɒs/ supposedly in or near
Scandinavia

Nessonis
Lacus

Niliacus /nɪˈlaɪəkəs
"Lake of the Nile" Colles Nili
Lacus ˈleɪkəs/

Nilokeras Fossae, Nilokeras

Nilokeras "Horn of the Nile"
Mensae

Nitriæ /ˈnaɪtrɪiː/

Nix Atlantica /ˈnɪks "Atlantic Snow" Obsolete

 ætˈlæntɪkə/

Olympus Maculae, Olympus

/ˈnɪks
Nix Olympica "Olympian Snow" Mons, Olympus Patera,
ɒˈlɪmpɪkə/
Olympus Rupes

Noachis quadrangle, Noachis

Noachis /ˈnoʊəkɪs/ "Land of Noah"
Terra

/ˈnoʊdəs
Nodus Gordii "Gordian Knot" Gordii Dorsum
ˈɡɔːrdiaɪ/

/ˈnoʊtaɪ
Noti Sinus "Bay of Notus"
ˈsaɪnəs/

Novissima /noʊˈvɪsəmə
"Newest Thule"
Thyle ˈθaɪliː/

Nuba Lacus /ˈnjuːbə ˈleɪkəs/

O-S …
 Name Pronunciation Meaning Modern name(s)

Mare /ˈmɛəriː Oceanidum Fossa,

"Sea of the Oceanids"
Oceanidum oʊʃiːˈænɪdəm/ Oceanidum Mons

Octantis /ɒkˈtæntɪs Octantis Cavi, Octantis

"Lowland of Octans"
Depressio dɪˈprɛʃioʊ/ Mons

Oenotria Plana, Oenotria

Œnotria /ɪˈnoʊtriə/
Scopuli

/ˈɒdʒɪdʒɪs Ogygis Rupes, Ogygis

Ogygis Regio "Region of Ogyges"
ˈriːdʒioʊ/ Undae

Ophir Catenae, Ophir Cavi,

From Ophir, a biblical land of
Ophir /ˈoʊfər/ Ophir Chasma, Ophir
gold
Planum

Ortygia /ɔːrˈtɪdʒiə/ Ortygia Colles

Oxeia, a Greek Island in Ionian Oxia Chaos, Oxia Colles,

Oxia Palus /ˈɒkʃiə ˈpeɪləs/
Sea Oxia Palus quadrangle

Palicorum /ˌpælɪˈkɔːrəm
Lacus ˈleɪkəs/

Palinuri /ˌpælɪˈnjʊəraɪ
"Strait of Palinurus"
Fretum ˈfriːtəm/

/ˌpælɪˈnjʊəraɪ
Palinuri Sinus "Bay of Palinurus"
ˈsaɪnəs/

Pallas Lacus /ˌpæləs ˈleɪkəs/ "Lake of Pallas"

From the name of an island

Panchaia /pæŋˈkeɪə/ supposed to be in South Panchaia Rupes
Arabia

"Land of Phaethon or
Phaëthontis /ˌfeɪ.ɪˈθɒntɪs/ Phaethontis quadrangle
Phaethon (son of Eos)"

Phlegra /ˈfliːɡrə/ From a district in Macedonia. Phlegra Montes

Campi /ˈkæmpaɪ
"Fields of Phlegra" Phlegra Montes
Phlegræi flɪˈɡriːaɪ/

Phœnicis /fɪˈnaɪsɪs "Lake of the Phoenix" a.k.a. Phoenicis Lacus

Lacus ˈleɪkəs/ Lacus Phœnicis quadrangle

/ˈfrɪksaɪ
Phrixi Regio "Region of Phrixus" Phrixi Rupes
ˈriːdʒioʊ/
Piscis /ˈpaɪsɪs "Depression of the Fish"
Depressio dɪˈprɛʃioʊ/

Depressio /dɪˈprɛʃioʊ
"Lowland of Pontus"
Pontica ˈpɒntɪkə/

Promethei /proʊˈmiːθiːaɪ
"Bay of Prometheus" Promethei Terra
Sinus ˈsaɪnəs/

From an old name for the Sea

Propontis /proʊˈpɒntɪs/
of Marmara

/ˈproʊtiːaɪ
Protei Regio "Region of Proteus"
ˈriːdʒioʊ/

Pyrrhae Chaos, Pyrrhae

Pyrrhæ Regio /ˈpɪriː ˈriːdʒioʊ/ "Region of Pyrrha"
Fossae

Tenuis Mensae, Rupes

Rupes Tenuis Latin: "Thin Cliff"
Tenuis

/ˈsaɪnəs "Bay of Sheba" Aka Sabaeus Terra Sabaea, Sinus

Sinus Sabæus
səˈbiːəs/ Sinus Sabaeus quadrangle

From a name for Skåne or Scandia Cavi, Scandia

Scandia /ˈskændiə/
Scandinavia Colles, Scandia Tholi

/ˈskɪəriə
Scheria Insula "Scheria Island"
ˈɪnsjʊlə/

Semiramidis /ˌsɛmɪˈræmɪdɪs
"Lake of Semiramis"
Lacus ˈleɪkəs/

Serapium

Simoëntis /ˌsɪmoʊˈɛntɪs
"Bay of Simois" Simois Colles
Sinus ˈsaɪnəs/

The army-swallowing
Sirbonis Palus Serbonian Bog near Mt Obsolete
Casius in Egypt

/ˈmɛəriː
Mare Sirenum "Sea of Sirens" Terra Sirenum
saɪˈriːnəm/

Socratis /ˈsɒkrətɪs
"Cape of Socrates"
Promontorium ˌprɒmənˈtɔːriəm/

Solis Fons /ˈsoʊlɪs ˈfɒnz/ "Fountain of the Sun" Obsolete

Solis Lacus /ˈsoʊlɪs ˈleɪkəs/ "Lake of the Sun" Solis Planum

Stygis "Styx River", Greece Stygis Catena, Stygis
Fossae

/ˈsɜːrtɪs a Libyan gulf, now Gulf of Syrtis Major Planum, Syrtis

Syrtis Major
ˈmeɪdʒər/ Sidra Major quadrangle

/ˈsɜːrtɪs now Gulf of Gabès in Tunisia.

Syrtis Minor
ˈmaɪnər/ a.k.a. Syrtis Parva

T-Z …
 Name Pronunciation Meaning Modern name(s)

Tempe Fossae, Tempe

Tempe /ˈtɛmpiː/ Vale of Tempe, Greece
Terra

"Tarshish" ancient source of ship-

Tharsis Montes, Tharsis
Tharsis /ˈθɑːrsɪs/ loads of silver. Possibly Tartessos
quadrangle
or Sardinia

Thaumasia Planum,
Thaumasia /θɔːˈmeɪʒə/ "Land of Wonders"
Thaumasia quadrangle

/ˈθaɪliː Thyles Montes, Thyles

Thyle I "First Thule"
ˈpraɪmə/ Rupes

/ˈθaɪliː
Thyle II "Second Thule"
sɪˈkʌndə/

Thyles
/ˈθaɪliːz ˈkɒlɪs/ "Hill of Thule"
Collis

Thyles /ˈθaɪliːz
"Mountain of Thule"
Mons ˈmɒnz/

Thymiamata /ˌθɪmiˈæmətə/ "Incenses"

Tiphys /ˈtaɪfɪs
Fretum ˈfriːtəm/

Titanum /taɪˈteɪnəm
"Bay of the Titans"
Sinus ˈsaɪnəs/

Tithoniae Catenae,
Tithonius /tɪˈθoʊniəs
Tithoniae Fossae,
Lacus ˈleɪkəs/
Tithonium Chasma

Trinythios

"Fountain of the Crossroads" (east

Trivii Fons /ˈtrɪviaɪ ˈfɒnz/
of Trivium Charontis)

Trivium /ˈtrɪviəm
"Crossroads of Charon"
Charontis kəˈrɒntɪs/

Mare Tyrrhenum
Mare /ˈmɛəriː
"Tyrrhenian Sea" quadrangle, Tyrrhenus
Tyrrhenum tɪˈriːnəm/
Mons, Tyrrhena Terra

Uchronia /juːˈkroʊniə/ "Nowhen"

Ulyxis /juːˈlɪksɪs "Strait of Ulysses" Ulyxis Rupes

Fretum ˈfriːtəm/

Utopia /juːˈtoʊpiə/ "Nowhere, Utopia" Utopia Planitia

Vulcani /vʌlˈkeɪnaɪ
"Sea of Vulcan"
Pelagus ˈpɛləɡəs/

/ˈzænθaɪ Xanthe Dorsa, Xanthe

Xanthi Sinus "Bay of Xanthus"
ˈsaɪnəs/ Terra

Xisuthri /zɪˈsuːθraɪ
"Region of Xisuthrus"
Regio ˈriːdʒioʊ/

Yaonis /ˈjeɪənɪs
"Region of Emperor Yao"
Regio ˈriːdʒioʊ/

Zephyria Planum, Zephyria

Zephyria /zɪˈfɪriə/ "Land of the West Wind (Zephyr)"
Mensae

Interactive Mars map

Interactive image map of the global

topography of Mars. Hover over the image to see
the names of over 60 prominent geographic
the names of over 60 prominent geographic
See also
features, and click to link to them. Coloring of
the base map indicates relative elevations,
Aspledon Undae
based on data from the Mars Orbiter Laser
Altimeter
Dark duneon NASA's
spotsMars Global Surveyor.
Whites and browns indicate the highest
List of craters
elevations on Mars
(+12 to +8 km); followed by pinks and
reds (+8 to +3 km); yellow is 0 km; greens and
List of Martian canals
blues are lower elevations (down to −8 km).
Mars
Axes are latitude and longitude; Polar regions
are noted.
Martian canals
(See also: Mars Rovers map and Mars Memorial map)
Siton
(view Undae
• discuss)

References
1. "History of Planetary
Nomenclature" .
planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov.
International Astronomical Union
(IAU) Working Group for Planetary
 System Nomenclature (WGPSN).
Retrieved 3 Dec 2016.
2. "Martian Feature Name
Nomenclature" .
www.marsartgallery.com. Retrieved
3 Dec 2016.
3. United States Geological Survey
Astrogeology Program, "Mars
Nomenclature: Albedo Feature",
Gazetteer of Planetary
Nomenclature .
4. Frey, Herbert (1974). "Surface
Features on Mars: Ground-Based
Albedo and Radar Compared With
Mariner 9 Topography" . Journal of
Geophysical Research. Journal of
 Geophysical Research. 79 (26):
3907–3916.
Bibcode:1974JGR....79.3907F .
doi:10.1029/JB079i026p03907 .
hdl:2060/19740005454 . Archived
from the original on January 16,
2014.

Further reading
MacDonald, T. L. (1971). "The Origins
of Martian Nomenclature". Icarus. 15
(2): 233–240.
Bibcode:1971Icar...15..233M .
doi:10.1016/0019-1035(71)90077-7 .
Sheehan, William (1996). The Planet
Mars: A History of Observation and
Discovery (Online book).
 Anthropological Papers of the.
University Arizona Press. ISBN 978-
0816516414. Retrieved 2017-09-23.

External links
USGS Astrologeology Program,
Martian Nomenclature

Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Classical_albedo_features_on_Mars&oldid=9
75844712"

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