| Feature type | Plains |
|---|---|
| Location | Eridania quadrangle,Mars |
| Coordinates | 38°09′S122°13′E / 38.15°S 122.21°E /-38.15; 122.21[1] |
| Diameter | 1,062.13 km (659.98 mi) |
| Eponym | Lands ofEridanos |
Eridania Planitia is a plain located in the southern highlands ofMars. It borders theHellas basin to the west,Promethei Terra to the south, and the massive shield volcanoHesperia Planum to the north.[2] The nameEridania Planitia was approved by theInternational Astronomical Union (IAU) on 22 September 2010; it is named after the closestclassical albedo feature.[1]
As with much of the Martian southern highlands, Eridania Planitia is ancient, with an estimated age of roughly 3.7–4 billion years old.[3] However, subregions within the plains are younger, with a large depression (informally named theMorpheos basin) likely forming within a period spanning between 3.52 and 3.67 billion years ago.[2] Additionally, Eridania Planitia is host to a concentration ofexpanded craters, indicating an ice-rich subsurface.[4]
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