Lucus Planum

Lucus Planum is a region on Mars, named after an albedo feature. Its name was approved by the IAU in 1997.[1] The center latitude of the feature is 4.99 degrees S and the center longitude is 182.83 degrees[2] It lies just to the east and north east of the volcano Apollinaris Patera. Lucus Planum lies in both the Memnonia quadrangle and the Aeolis quadrangles. It is part of a region called the "Medusae Fossae Formation"[3] Part of this region is covered with yardangs. They are formed by the action of wind on sand sized particles; hence they often point in the direction that the winds were blowing when they were formed.[4][5] Views of yardangs in this region are shown below.

  • Wide context view of surface of Lucus Planum, as seen with CTX.
  • Closer view of yardangs from previous image, as seen with CTX.
  • Wide view of yardangs in Lucus Planum, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program
  • Close view of yardangs in previous image, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program
  • Close view of yardangs from a previous image, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program
Map showing the boundaries of Lucus Planum

See also

References
  1. http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/3506;jsessionid=1F1C198B74EB7EB78611A85D9BD01298
  2. http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=MARS&featureType=Planum%2C%20plana
  3. Orosei, R. et al. 2016. RADAR SOUNDING BY MARSIS OVER LUCUS PLANUM, MARS. 47th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (2016) 1869.pdf.
  4. http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Mars_Express/Yardangs_on_Mars
  5. http://www.uahirise.org/ESP_040504_1920
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