Elysium Planitia
Encyclopedia
Elysium Planitia is the second largest volcanic
region on Mars
, after Tharsis Montes
. It is centered at 2.0°N 155.0°W. It includes volcanoes, from north to south, Hecates Tholus
, Elysium Mons
and Albor Tholus
. Another large volcano, Apollinaris Mons, lies south of the others. Besides having large volcanoes, Elysium Planitia has several areas with long trenches, called fossa or fossae (plural) on Mars. They include Cerberus Fossae
, Elysium Fossae
, and Hephaestus Fossae
.
spacecraft shows what may be ash-covered water ice. The volume of ice is estimated to be 800 by 900 kilometers in size and 45 meters deep, similar in size and depth to the North Sea
. The ice is thought to be the remains of water floods and lava flows in the Cerberus Fossae
fissures about 2 to 10 million years ago. The surface of the area is broken into 'plates' like broken ice floating on a lake. Impact crater counts show that the plates are up to 1 million years older than the gap material, showing that the area solidified much too slowly for the material to be basaltic lava.
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
region on Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
, after Tharsis Montes
Tharsis Montes
The Tharsis Montes are three large shield volcanoes in the Tharsis region of the planet Mars. From north to south, the volcanoes are Ascraeus Mons, Pavonis Mons and Arsia Mons. Mons is the Latin word for mountain...
. It is centered at 2.0°N 155.0°W. It includes volcanoes, from north to south, Hecates Tholus
Hecates Tholus
Hecates Tholus is a Martian volcano, notable for results from the European Space Agency's Mars Express mission which indicate a major eruption took place 350 million years ago. The eruption created a caldera 10 km in diameter. It has been suggested that glacial deposits later partly filled the...
, Elysium Mons
Elysium Mons
Elysium Mons is a volcano on Mars located in the Elysium Planitia, at , in the Martian eastern hemisphere. It stands about 13.9 km above the surrounding lava plains, and about 16 km above the Martian datum. Its diameter is about 240 km, with a summit caldera about 14 km across...
and Albor Tholus
Albor Tholus
Albor Tholus is an extinct volcano in the Elysium Planitia area on Mars. It lies south of the neighbouring volcanoes Elysium Mons and Hecates Tholus. Albor Tholus is 4.5 kilometres high and has a diameter of 160 km at its base. Its caldera has a diameter of 30 km and is 3 km deep, it...
. Another large volcano, Apollinaris Mons, lies south of the others. Besides having large volcanoes, Elysium Planitia has several areas with long trenches, called fossa or fossae (plural) on Mars. They include Cerberus Fossae
Cerberus Fossae
The Cerberus Fossae are a series of semi-parallel fissures on Mars formed by faults which pulled the crust apart in the Cerberus region . Ripples seen at the bottom of the fault are sand blown by the wind ....
, Elysium Fossae
Elysium Fossae
Elysium Fossae is a large trough in the Elysium quadrangle of Mars at 24.8° north latitude and 213.7° west longitude. It is about 1,175 km long and is named after a classical albedo feature name.- Layers :...
, and Hephaestus Fossae
Hephaestus Fossae
Hephaestus Fossae is a system of troughs and channels in the Cebrenia quadrangle of Mars, with a location centered at 21.1 N and 237.5 W. It is 604 km long and was named after a classical albedo feature name. The Fossae have been tentatively identified as outflow channels, but their origin...
.
Troughs (Fossae) in Elysium Planitia
A 2005 photo of Elysium Planitia by the Mars ExpressMars Express
Mars Express is a space exploration mission being conducted by the European Space Agency . The Mars Express mission is exploring the planet Mars, and is the first planetary mission attempted by the agency. "Express" originally referred to the speed and efficiency with which the spacecraft was...
spacecraft shows what may be ash-covered water ice. The volume of ice is estimated to be 800 by 900 kilometers in size and 45 meters deep, similar in size and depth to the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
. The ice is thought to be the remains of water floods and lava flows in the Cerberus Fossae
Cerberus Fossae
The Cerberus Fossae are a series of semi-parallel fissures on Mars formed by faults which pulled the crust apart in the Cerberus region . Ripples seen at the bottom of the fault are sand blown by the wind ....
fissures about 2 to 10 million years ago. The surface of the area is broken into 'plates' like broken ice floating on a lake. Impact crater counts show that the plates are up to 1 million years older than the gap material, showing that the area solidified much too slowly for the material to be basaltic lava.
See also
- List of plains on Mars
- Geography of Mars
- Geology of MarsGeology of MarsThe geology of Mars is the scientific study of the surface, crust, and interior of the planet Mars. It emphasizes the composition, structure, history, and physical processes that shape the planet. It is fully analogous to the field of terrestrial geology. In planetary science, the term geology is...
- Fossa (geology)Fossa (geology)Fossa is a term used in planetary geology to describe a long, narrow depression on the surface of an extraterrestrial body, such as a planet or moon...
External links
- Google Mars - zoomable map centered on Elysium Planitia, with three main volcanoes visible
- google mars - Cerebrus Fossae fissures