Scopulus


In planetary geology, a scopulus is a lobate or irregular escarpment. In the early 1970s, the International Astronomical Union adopted scopulus as one of a number of official descriptor terms for topographic features on Mars and other planets and satellites. One justification for using neutral Latin or Greek descriptors was that it allowed features to be named and described before their geology or geomorphology could be determined. Currently, the IAU recognizes 54 descriptor terms. Thirteen features with the descriptor term scopulus are present on Mars.

Scopuli on Mars

NameMars coordinatesQuadrangleLength
Abalos Scopuli80°43′12″N 283°26′24″EMare Boreum quadrangle109 km
Australe Scopuli83°28′48″S 247°03′36″EMare Australe quadrangle505 km
Boreales Scopuli88°52′48″N 269°50′24″EMare Boreum quadrangle1,13 km
Nilokeras Scopulus31°43′12″N 304°09′00″EMare Acidalium quadrangle901 km