Glossary of Mars features
The following definitions as used by Google Mars. This table serves as a starting point for more detailed descriptions of each Martian surface feature. Use examples from the Regions Category.
Term | Description |
Albedo | Geographic area distinguished by amount of reflected light |
Catena, catenae | Chain of craters |
Cavus, cavi | Hollows, irregular steep-sided depressions usually in arrays or clusters |
Chaos | Distinctive area of broken terrain |
Chasma, chasmata | A deep, elongated, steep-sided depression |
Colles | Small hills or knobs |
Crater, craters | A circular depression |
Dorsum, dorsa | Ridge |
Fluctus | Flow terrain |
Fossa, fossae | Long, narrow, shallow depression |
Labes | Landslide |
Labyrinthus, labyrinthi | Complex of intersecting valleys |
Lingula, lingulae | Extension of plateau having rounded lobate or tongue-like boundaries |
Mensa, mensae | A flat-topped prominence with cliff-like edges |
Mons, montes | Mountain |
Patera, paterae | An irregular crater, or a complex one with scalloped edges |
Planitia, planitiae | Low plain |
Planum, plana | Plateau or high plain |
Rupes | Scarp |
Scopulus, scopuli | Lobate or irregular scarp |
Sulcus, sulci | Subparallel furrows and ridges |
Terra, terrae | Extensive land mass |
Tholus, tholi | Small domical mountain or hill |
Undae | Dunes |
Vallis, valles | Valley |
Vastitas, vastitates | Extensive plain |
Original source: http://www.google.com/mars/glossary.html