Mars Places #5: Hellas Planitia
Hellas Planitia
Description:
Hellas Planitia is a vast impact basin in Mars' southern hemisphere, the largest visible crater in the solar system at 2,300 km diameter and 7 km deep.
Formed about 4 billion years ago, its floor is smooth with wrinkle ridges, dunes, and small craters, covered by dust and possible glacial deposits.
The basin influences global atmospheric circulation and hosts features like honeycomb terrain from ancient volcanism or ice.
How I Got My Name:
Named after Hellas, the Greek name for Greece, following albedo feature nomenclature by early astronomers.
Interesting Fact:
Site of potential ancient ocean; radar data from Mars Express shows subsurface ice, and its low elevation creates higher air pressure, making it a proposed landing site for future human missions due to easier entry.
Location:
Centered at 42.4° S, 70.5° E, 2300 km diameter.
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