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Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms pp 1–2Cite as

Mare, [Maria]

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A descriptor term used in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

Definition

“Sea”; large circular plain; on Titan, large expanses of dark materials thought to be liquid hydrocarbons (IAU Gazetteer 2014).

Large dark area (Sadler 1962).

Previous Definitions

Dark, smooth plains [on the Moon] (Wilhelms 1987).

Origin of Term

Sea, Latin.

Notes: There are several uses of the term mare.

  1. 1.

    As albedo unit: large dark patches, as contrasted to bright units, e.g., terra on the Moon (without genetic implication) – may be composed of dust-free dark bedrock or dark sand on Mars (Dark Deposits, Mars) or basaltic lava on the Moon (Mare, Moon) or probably liquid material on Titan.

  2. 2.

    As terrain type on the Moon: smooth plains mostly in and around depressed parts of large circular basins (without genetic implication); Mare (Moon).

  3. 3.

    As material unit (specific geologic definition): plain-forming basaltic materials (mare materials, mare deposits), only on the Moon (Mare (Moon), Volcanic Plain).

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References

  • Hevelius J (1647) Selenographia sive lunae descriptio. Typis Hunefelianis, Gedani

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  • IAU Gazetteer (2014) Gazetteer of planetary nomenclature. International Astronomical Union Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature. http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/DescriptorTerms

  • van Langren MF (1645) Plenilunii lumina Austriaca Philippica. Brussel, Copper engraving

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  • Riccioli GB, Grimaldi FM (1651) Almagestum novum. Victorii Benatii, Bologna

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  • Sadler DH (ed) (1962) Commission Pour L’etude Physique des Planetes et des Satellites In: Proceedings of the eleventh general assembly (Berkeley, 1961) Transactions of the IAU, vol XIB. Academic Press, London

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  • Schiapparelli GV (1878) Mappa Aerographica. Atti della Reale Accademia dei Lincei. Memoria della cl. di scienze fisiche, Roma

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  • Wilhelms DE (1987) The geologic history of the moon. USGS Professional paper 1348

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Planetary Science Research Group, Eötvös Loránd University, Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Budapest, Hungary

    Henrik Hargitai

Authors
  1. Henrik Hargitai
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Correspondence to Henrik Hargitai .

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Hargitai, H. (2014). Mare, [Maria]. In: Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9213-9_225-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9213-9_225-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-9213-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Earth and Environm. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences

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