Photo: this view of the lee side of the Namib Dune is part of the black
sand field of the Bagnold Dunes along the northwest flank of
Mount Sharp. Images taken from orbit indicate that dunes in the Bagnold field move as much
as about 3 feet (1 meter) per Earth year (half a Martian year). This scene was taken
on December 18, 2015 by Curiosity's Mastcam on the 1,197th sol of
rover activity on Mars. The bottom of the dune nearest the rover is about 23 feet (7 meters) from the camera.
This downwind face of the dune rises at an inclination of about 28 degrees to a height of about 16 feet (5 meters)
above the base. The examination of the dunes by the scientific mission in the Bagnold Field, along the rover's route to the lower
slope of Mount Sharp, is the first careful examination of sand dunes active elsewhere than on Earth.
Fascinated by the processing of images sent by probes exploring the solar system, Thomas Appéré regularly
creates mosaics like this one and colorizations of previously unseen images, which he then shares on social networks.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/Thomas Appéré.
Albedo Catena Cavus Chaos Chasma Collis Crater Dorsum Fluctus Fossa Labes Labyrinthus Lacus Lingula Macula Mare Mensa Mons Palus Patera Planitia Planum Regio Rupes Scopulus Serpens Sinus Sulcus Terra Tholus Unda Vallis Vastitas
List of albedo features
In exogeology, an albedo feature is a generally extensive region on the surface of a Solar System object that exhibits a contrast in brightness or darkness with adjacent areas. They were the first structures to be identified, named, and studied on the surface of stars seen from Earth. The dark spots on the surface of the Moon, are albedo features. The oldest albedo feature identified outside the Moon is Syrtis Major on Mars, recorded by Christian Huygens on a sketch made in 1659.
The [names in grey and italics] in the tables are dropped or moved, referenced here because they may appear in older documents.
| Name | Entity | Type | Lat | Lon | Ø km | Quad | Origin |  |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aeolis | Mars | Albedo | -4.94 | 145.00 | 0.00 | mc23 | Floating island where winds were kept in a cave. |
 |
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| Aeria | Mars | Albedo | 9.88 | 50.00 | 0.00 | mc13 | Greek name for Egypt; "far land of mist". |
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| Aetheria | Mars | Albedo | 39.67 | 130.00 | 0.00 | mc07 | Upper world; land of living. |
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| Aethiopis | Mars | Albedo | 9.88 | 130.00 | 0.00 | mc14 | Countries of the Ethiopians on southern edge of the Earth. |
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| Amazonis | Mars | Albedo | 0.00 | 220.00 | 0.00 | Land of the Amazons; on the island Hesperia. |
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| Amenthes | Mars | Albedo | 4.94 | 110.00 | 0.00 | mc14 | Egyptian name for place where souls of the dead go. |
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| Aonium Sinus | Mars | Albedo | -44.66 | 255.00 | 0.00 | mc25 | Named for Aonides, or Muses. |
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| Arabia | Mars | Albedo | 19.78 | 30.00 | 0.00 | mc12 | Country bordering on Aeria (Egypt). |
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| Arcadia | Mars | Albedo | 44.66 | 260.00 | 0.00 | mc03 | Mountainous region in southern Greece. |
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| Argyre | Mars | Albedo | -44.66 | 335.00 | 0.00 | mc26 | "Silver" Island at mouth of Ganges River; present-day Arakan, Burma. |
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| Arnon | Mars | Albedo | 47.66 | 25.00 | 0.00 | mc05 | Classical name for present El-Mojib River, Jordan. |
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| Aurorae Sinus | Mars | Albedo | -14.83 | 310.00 | 0.00 | mc18 | "Bay of Rosy Dawn"; Aurora held back the dawn. |
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| Ausonia | Mars | Albedo | -39.67 | 110.00 | 0.00 | mc28 | Country of the Aruncii (Ausones in Greek). |
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| Baltia | Mars | Albedo | 59.71 | 310.00 | 0.00 | mc04 | Name of large island in northern Europe where amber was found. |
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| Boreosyrtis | Mars | Albedo | 54.68 | 70.00 | 0.00 | mc06 | Northern continuation of Nilosyrtis; "Syrtis of the north." |
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| Candor | Mars | Albedo | 2.96 | 285.00 | 0.00 | mc10 | Means "Blaze" or "White" in Latin. |
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| Casius | Mars | Albedo | 39.67 | 100.00 | 0.00 | mc06 | Epithet of Zeus; for his two sanctuaries in Egypt/Arabia and Syria. |
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| Cebrenia | Mars | Albedo | 49.67 | 150.00 | 0.00 | mc07 | Main country of the Trojan Plain. |
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| Cecropia | Mars | Albedo | 59.71 | 40.00 | 0.00 | mc05 | Old name for Acropolis; used to mean Athens. |
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| Ceraunius | Mars | Albedo | 19.78 | 267.00 | 0.00 | mc09 | "Thunderclap"; named for Ceraunii Mountains on coast of Epirus, Greece. |
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| Cerberus | Mars | Albedo | 14.83 | 155.00 | 0.00 | mc15 | Hound who had 3 heads; guarded gates of hell. |
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| Chalce | Mars | Albedo | -49.67 | 360.00 | 0.00 | mc26 | Old name of island of Khalki, west of Rhodes. |
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| Chersonesus | Mars | Albedo | -49.67 | 100.00 | 0.00 | mc28 | Gallipoli Peninsula. |
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| Chryse | Mars | Albedo | 9.88 | 330.00 | 0.00 | mc11 | Island rich in gold; region of Thailand/Malacca. |
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| Chrysokeras | Mars | Albedo | -49.67 | 250.00 | 0.00 | mc25 | "Golden Horn"; Byzantine Peninsula (now Turkey), or its inlet. |
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| Claritas | Mars | Albedo | -34.68 | 250.00 | 0.00 | mc25 | Latin, meaning "bright." |
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| Copais Palus | Mars | Albedo | 54.68 | 80.00 | 0.00 | mc06 | Named for marsh north of Mt. Helicon in Boeotia, Greece. |
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| Coprates | Mars | Albedo | -14.83 | 295.00 | 0.00 | mc18 | Old name for Persian River Ab-I-Diz. |
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| Cyclopia | Mars | Albedo | -4.94 | 130.00 | 0.00 | mc22 | Land where Cyclops dwelt. |
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| Cydonia | Mars | Albedo | 39.67 | 360.00 | 0.00 | mc04 | Poetic term for Crete. |
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| Deltoton Sinus | Mars | Albedo | -3.95 | 55.00 | 0.00 | mc21 | "Bay of the triangle"; makes triangle with Iapygia and Oenotria. |
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| Depressio Hellespontica | Mars | Albedo | -59.71 | 20.00 | 0.00 | mc27 | Depression southwest of Hellespontus. |
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| Deucalionis Regio | Mars | Albedo | -14.83 | 20.00 | 0.00 | mc20 | "Deucalion's region;" Deucalion was King of Thessaly who saved himself from flood. |
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| Deuteronilus | Mars | Albedo | 34.68 | 360.00 | 0.00 | mc04 | Designation of 2nd part of old feature "Nilus." |
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| Diacria | Mars | Albedo | 49.67 | 180.00 | 0.00 | mc07 | Highland area in northern Attica, Greece. |
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| Dioscuria | Mars | Albedo | 49.67 | 40.00 | 0.00 | mc05 | "Home of Dioscuri," Polydeuces and Pollux; symbolic name for Sparta. |
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|
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| Edom | Mars | Albedo | 0.00 | 15.00 | 0.00 | Biblical country of Edomites, south of Judea. |
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| Electris | Mars | Albedo | -44.66 | 170.00 | 0.00 | mc29 | Electra's island near River Eridanus; famous for amber formed from tears shed by Phaethon's sisters. |
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| Elysium | Mars | Albedo | 24.74 | 150.00 | 0.00 | mc15 | Home of the blessed on western edge of world. |
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| Eridania | Mars | Albedo | -44.66 | 140.00 | 0.00 | mc29 | Region on the Po River, Italy. |
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| Eunostos | Mars | Albedo | 21.77 | 240.00 | 0.00 | mc09 | "Lucky journey or lucky return"; i.e., infernal regions beyond Elysium. |
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| Euphrates | Mars | Albedo | 19.78 | 25.00 | 0.00 | mc12 | Biblical fourth River of Paradise. |
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| Gehon | Mars | Albedo | 14.83 | 360.00 | 0.00 | mc11 | Biblical second River of Paradise; bordering Eden. |
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| Hellas | Mars | Albedo | -39.67 | 70.00 | 0.00 | mc28 | Greece. |
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| Hellespontus | Mars | Albedo | -49.67 | 35.00 | 0.00 | mc27 | The Dardanelles. |
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| Hesperia | Mars | Albedo | -19.78 | 120.00 | 0.00 | mc22 | "The Occiden"; name for Italy (Greek); or Spain (Roman) or West area of Ethiopians where sun sank. |
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| Hiddekel | Mars | Albedo | 14.83 | 15.00 | 0.00 | mc12 | Tigris River, Babylonia; Biblical third River of Paradise. |
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| Hyperboreus (Lacus) | Mars | Albedo | 74.83 | 300.00 | 0.00 | mc01 | Far northern lake. |
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| Iapygia (Iapigia) | Mars | Albedo | -19.78 | 65.00 | 0.00 | mc21 | Classically, Iapygia was all of Apulia, or just the Salentine Peninsula. |
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| Icaria | Mars | Albedo | -39.67 | 230.00 | 0.00 | mc24 | Land where Icarus lived (Crete). |
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| II Thyle I | Mars | Albedo | -69.78 | 180.00 | 0.00 | mc30 | Named for Thule; may be middle Norway; used to indicate far northern lands. |
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| [Isidis Regio] | Mars | Albedo | 19.78 | 85.00 | 0.00 | mc13 | Isis' Region; Isis was Egyptian goddess of heaven and fertility. |
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| Ismenius Lacus | Mars | Albedo | 39.67 | 30.00 | 0.00 | mc05 | "Ismenian Lake"; Ismenia is poetic term for Thebes. |
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| Jamuna | Mars | Albedo | 9.88 | 320.00 | 0.00 | mc11 | Present Jumna River, India. |
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| Juventae Fons | Mars | Albedo | -4.94 | 297.00 | 0.00 | mc18 | The "Fountain of Youth;" a fountain in India. |
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| Laestrygon (Laestrigon) | Mars | Albedo | 0.00 | 160.00 | 0.00 | Man-eating giants who lived in the west. |
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| Lemuria | Mars | Albedo | 69.78 | 160.00 | 0.00 | mc01 | Designation of purported drowned continent south of India; also relates to lemur monkeys found on Madagascar and Sunda Islands. |
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| Libya | Mars | Albedo | 0.00 | 90.00 | 0.00 | Area from W. Egypt to greater Syrtis. |
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| Lunae Palus | Mars | Albedo | 14.83 | 295.00 | 0.00 | mc10 | Roman Moon goddess Luna; "Luna's Swamp," or African Lunae Mountains where Nile was thought to originate. |
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| Mare Acidalium | Mars | Albedo | 44.66 | 330.00 | 0.00 | mc04 | Name for Acidalian (Venusian) fountain in Boeotia where the Graces bathed. |
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| Mare Australe | Mars | Albedo | -59.71 | 350.00 | 0.00 | mc26 | "South Sea" |
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| Mare Boreum | Mars | Albedo | 59.71 | 180.00 | 0.00 | mc07 | "North Sea" |
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| Mare Chronium | Mars | Albedo | -57.70 | 150.00 | 0.00 | mc29 | "Cronian Sea", northern part of World Sea where eternal dead calm, dangerous to ships, prevailed. |
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| Mare Cimmerium | Mars | Albedo | -19.78 | 140.00 | 0.00 | mc23 | Cimmerians were ancient Thracian seafarers; "far western sea" (Homer). |
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| Mare Erythraeum | Mars | Albedo | -24.74 | 320.00 | 0.00 | mc19 | Indian Ocean. |
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| Mare Hadriacum | Mars | Albedo | -39.67 | 90.00 | 0.00 | mc28 | Adriatic Sea. |
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| Mare Serpentis | Mars | Albedo | -29.71 | 40.00 | 0.00 | mc20 | Named for Constellation Serpens (the snake). |
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| Mare Sirenum | Mars | Albedo | -29.71 | 205.00 | 0.00 | mc16 | "Sea of the Sirens." |
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| Mare Tyrrhenum | Mars | Albedo | -19.78 | 105.00 | 0.00 | mc22 | Tyrrhenian Sea, between Italy and Sicily. |
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| Margaritifer Sinus | Mars | Albedo | -9.88 | 335.00 | 0.00 | mc19 | "Pearl Bay," after Pearl Coast, South India. |
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| Memnonia | Mars | Albedo | -19.78 | 210.00 | 0.00 | mc16 | Land of Memnon, King of Ethiopia. |
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| Meroe | Mars | Albedo | 34.68 | 75.00 | 0.00 | mc06 | Ethiopian island on Nile; now Atbar. |
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| Moab | Mars | Albedo | 19.78 | 10.00 | 0.00 | mc12 | Biblical town bordering Edom. |
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| Moeris Lacus | Mars | Albedo | 7.91 | 90.00 | 0.00 | mc13 | "Moeris Lake;" Moeris was Egyptian lake in Libyan Desert. |
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| Nectar | Mars | Albedo | -27.72 | 288.00 | 0.00 | mc18 | Named for the drink of the gods. |
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| Neith Regio | Mars | Albedo | 37.67 | 88.00 | 0.00 | mc06 | Lower world in Egyptian mythology. |
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| Nepenthes | Mars | Albedo | 19.78 | 100.00 | 0.00 | mc14 | Egyptian drug of forgetfulness. |
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| Nereidum Fretum | Mars | Albedo | -44.66 | 305.00 | 0.00 | mc26 | "Straits of the Nereids", who were sea nymphs. |
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| Niliacus Lacus | Mars | Albedo | 29.71 | 330.00 | 0.00 | mc11 | "Lake of the Nile" |
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| Nilokeras | Mars | Albedo | 29.71 | 305.00 | 0.00 | mc10 | "Horn of the Nile;" part of "Nulus" Canal. |
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| Nilosyrtis | Mars | Albedo | 41.66 | 70.00 | 0.00 | mc06 | Syrtis of the Nile; part of Nilus (Nile) Canal. |
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| Nix Olympica | Mars | Albedo | 19.78 | 230.00 | 0.00 | mc09 | "Snows of Olympus;" Olympus was mountain home of gods in Greece. |
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| Noachis | Mars | Albedo | -44.66 | 30.00 | 0.00 | mc27 | Biblical; "Noah's (Region)." |
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| Ogygis Regio | Mars | Albedo | -44.66 | 295.00 | 0.00 | mc25 | "Region of Ogygos;" Ogygos was ancient King of Thebes or Athens, Greece. |
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| Olympia | Mars | Albedo | 79.88 | 160.00 | 0.00 | mc01 | Ancient and modern Greek city. |
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| Ophir | Mars | Albedo | -9.88 | 295.00 | 0.00 | mc18 | Biblical land to which King Solomon sent naval expedition; probably India. |
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| Ortygia | Mars | Albedo | 59.71 | 360.00 | 0.00 | mc04 | Floating island (present Delos) where Leto bore Apollo and Artemis. |
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| Oxia Palus | Mars | Albedo | 7.91 | 342.00 | 0.00 | mc11 | Lake (swamp into which Oxus River flows; i.e. Sea of Aral). |
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| Oxus | Mars | Albedo | 19.78 | 348.00 | 0.00 | mc11 | Present Amoo-Darya River. |
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| Panchaia | Mars | Albedo | 59.71 | 160.00 | 0.00 | mc07 | Situated near Heliopolis, Egypt; or island in Red Sea rich in frankincense, gold, silver, thus Utopia. |
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| Pandorae Fretum | Mars | Albedo | -24.74 | 44.00 | 0.00 | mc20 | Woman who let loose evils of world when she opened a box. |
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| Phaethontis | Mars | Albedo | -49.67 | 205.00 | 0.00 | mc24 | "Of Phaethon;" who recklessly drove Chariot of Sun. |
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| Phison | Mars | Albedo | 19.78 | 40.00 | 0.00 | mc12 | Biblical first river of Paradise. |
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| Phlegra | Mars | Albedo | 31.00 | 172.20 | 134.00 | mc07 | "Burning plain;" in Chalcidian Peninsula of Greece where Zeus hurled thunderbolts at Titans to support Hercules. |
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| Phoenicis Lacus | Mars | Albedo | -11.86 | 250.00 | 0.00 | mc17 | "Lake of the Phoenix;" Arabia or India. |
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| Phrixi Regio | Mars | Albedo | -39.67 | 290.00 | 0.00 | mc25 | "Phrixus' Region;" Phrixus and sister Helle escaped sacrifice in Boeotia on back of ram with golden fleece. |
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| Promethei Sinus | Mars | Albedo | -64.74 | 80.00 | 0.00 | mc28 | Prometheus' Bay; Greek mythological character. |
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| Propontis | Mars | Albedo | 44.66 | 175.00 | 0.00 | mc07 | The Sea of Marmora, Asia Minor. |
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| Protei Regio | Mars | Albedo | -22.76 | 310.00 | 0.00 | mc18 | "Proteus' Region;" Proteus was a sea god with a gift of prophecy. |
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| Protonilus | Mars | Albedo | 41.66 | 45.00 | 0.00 | mc05 | Designation of first (Eastern) part of "Nilus" or Nile Canal. |
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| Pyrrhae Regio | Mars | Albedo | -14.83 | 322.00 | 0.00 | mc19 | "Pyrrha's Region;" named for Pyrrha, wife of Deucalion. |
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| Scandia | Mars | Albedo | 60.21 | 212.10 | 0.00 | mc02 | Southern Scandinavia. |
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| Sinai | Mars | Albedo | -19.78 | 290.00 | 0.00 | mc18 | Biblical; named for area next to Mare Erythraeum (Indian Ocean). |
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| Sinus Meridiani | Mars | Albedo | -4.94 | 360.00 | 0.00 | mc19 | "Middle Bay," from Flammarion map. |
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| Sinus Sabaeus | Mars | Albedo | -7.91 | 20.00 | 0.00 | mc20 | Today's Red Sea; Saba was part of southern Arabian Peninsula. |
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| Sithonius Lacus | Mars | Albedo | 44.66 | 115.00 | 0.00 | mc06 | Region inhabited by Sithonii; synonym of Thrace. |
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| Solis Lacus | Mars | Albedo | -27.72 | 270.00 | 0.00 | mc17 | "Lake of the Sun"; the so-called "Eye of Mars," connecting East with West. |
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| Styx | Mars | Albedo | 29.71 | 160.00 | 0.00 | mc15 | Great river around nether region, which souls must cross on journey from Earth. |
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| Syria | Mars | Albedo | -19.78 | 260.00 | 0.00 | mc17 | Province in Near East including Phoenicia; or one of the Cyclades (Homer). |
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| Syrtis Major | Mars | Albedo | 9.88 | 70.00 | 0.00 | mc13 | Libyan Gulf, now Gulf of Sirte. |
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| Tanais | Mars | Albedo | 49.67 | 290.00 | 0.00 | mc03 | Present River Don, Russia. |
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| Tempe | Mars | Albedo | 39.67 | 290.00 | 0.00 | mc03 | Greek valley south of Mt. Olympus noted for its beauty. |
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| Tharsis | Mars | Albedo | 0.00 | 260.00 | 0.00 | Connecting link between East and West; ancient Spanish town Tartessus. |
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| Thaumasia | Mars | Albedo | -34.68 | 275.00 | 0.00 | mc25 | Named for Thaumas, god of clouds; Arabia. |
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| Thoth | Mars | Albedo | 29.71 | 105.00 | 0.00 | mc14 | Egyptian messenger god. |
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| Thymiamata | Mars | Albedo | 9.88 | 350.00 | 0.00 | mc11 | "Land of sweet-scented perfumes"; South Yemen or India. |
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| Tithonius Lacus | Mars | Albedo | -4.94 | 275.00 | 0.00 | mc18 | "Tithonian Lake"; Tithonus received from his wife Eos eternal life but not eternal youth. |
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| Tractus Albus | Mars | Albedo | 29.71 | 280.00 | 0.00 | mc10 | "White Tract" in Latin. |
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| Trinacria | Mars | Albedo | -24.74 | 92.00 | 0.00 | mc22 | Classical name for Sicily. |
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| Trivium Charontis | Mars | Albedo | 19.78 | 162.00 | 0.00 | mc15 | "Crossroad of Charon"; meeting place of several netherworld Canals. |
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| Uchronia | Mars | Albedo | 69.78 | 100.00 | 0.00 | mc01 | "Land of Agelessness." |
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| Umbra | Mars | Albedo | 49.67 | 70.00 | 0.00 | mc06 | Means "Shadow" in Latin. |
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| Utopia | Mars | Albedo | 49.67 | 110.00 | 0.00 | mc06 | Greek, meaning "nowhere"; ideal state. |
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| Vulcani Pelagus | Mars | Albedo | -34.68 | 345.00 | 0.00 | mc26 | Named for Vulcan, Roman god of fire. |
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| Xanthe | Mars | Albedo | 9.88 | 310.00 | 0.00 | mc10 | "Golden-Yellow Land." |
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| Yaonis Regio | Mars | Albedo | -39.67 | 40.00 | 0.00 | mc27 | Named for Chinese Emperor Yao; flood occurred during his reign. |
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| Zephyria | Mars | Albedo | 0.00 | 165.00 | 0.00 | Land of the west wind. |
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