| Isidis Planitia | |
|---|---|
Topography of Isidis Planitia (false color) |
|
| Planet | Mars |
| Region | North of Hellas Planitia, east of Syrtis Major Planum |
| Diameter | 1500 km |
Isidis Planitia is a plain located inside a giant impact basin on Mars, centered at . It is the third biggest impact structure on the planet after the Hellas and Argyre basins – it is about 1500 km in diameter. Due to dust coverage, it typically appears bright in telescopic views, and was mapped as a classical albedo feature, Isidis Regio, visible by telescope in the pre-spacecraft era.
The Beagle 2 lander was about to land in the eastern part of Isidis Planitia in December 2003 when contact with the craft was lost. Just to the west of Isidis is Syrtis Major Planum, a low-relief shield volcano that is also a prominent dark albedo feature of Mars, which formed after the basin.[1]
Around the Isidis basin magnesium carbonate was found by MRO. This mineral indicates that water was present and that it was not acid. Life may have formed in this area.[2]
The name "Isidis Planitia" follows the earlier name Isidis Regio ("Isis' Region"). Isis is the Egyptian goddess of heaven and fertility.