Kasei Vallis
Encyclopedia
Kasei Vallis, which means "Mars" in Japanese, is a large channel system in the Lunae Palus quadrangle
, on Mars
. It is located at 24.6° north latitude and 65° west longitude. It begins in Echus Chasma
, near Valles Marineris
, and empties into Chryse Planitia
, not far from where Viking 1
landed. Kasei is about 2400 km (1,491.3 mi) long, and some sections of Kasei Valles are 300 km (186.4 mi) wide. Sacra Mensa, a large tableland, divides Kasei into a northern and southern channel. A significant feature of the Lunae Palus region, Kasei Valles is one of the largest outflow channels
on Mars. Like other outflow channels, it was likely carved by liquid water, possibly released by volcanic subsurface heating in Tharsis/Lunae Planum region, either as a one-time catastropic event or multiple flooding events over a long time period. Others have proposed that certain landforms were produced by glacial rather than liquid flow.
Lunae Palus quadrangle
The Lunae Palus quadrangle is one of a series of 30 quadrangle maps of Mars used by the United States Geological Survey Astrogeology Research Program. The quadrangle is also referred to as MC-10 ....
, on Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
. It is located at 24.6° north latitude and 65° west longitude. It begins in Echus Chasma
Echus Chasma
Echus Chasma is a chasma in the Lunae Planum high plateau north of the Valles Marineris canyon system of Mars. Clay has been found in Echus Chasma that means that water once sat there for a time.-Geography:...
, near Valles Marineris
Valles Marineris
Valles Marineris is a system of canyons that runs along the Martian surface east of the Tharsis region...
, and empties into Chryse Planitia
Chryse Planitia
Chryse Planitia is a smooth circular plain in the northern equatorial region of Mars close to the Tharsis region to the west, centered at . Chryse Planitia lies partially in the Lunae Palus quadrangle and partially in the Oxia Palus quadrangle...
, not far from where Viking 1
Viking 1
Viking 1 was the first of two spacecraft sent to Mars as part of NASA's Viking program. It was the first spacecraft to successfully land on Mars and perform its mission, and until May 19, 2010 held the record for the second longest Mars surface mission of 6 years and 116 days .- Mission :Following...
landed. Kasei is about 2400 km (1,491.3 mi) long, and some sections of Kasei Valles are 300 km (186.4 mi) wide. Sacra Mensa, a large tableland, divides Kasei into a northern and southern channel. A significant feature of the Lunae Palus region, Kasei Valles is one of the largest outflow channels
Outflow channels
Outflow channels is the term used to describe extremely long, wide swathes of scoured ground on Mars, commonly containing the streamlined remnants of pre-existing topography and other linear erosive features indicating sculpting by fluids moving downslope...
on Mars. Like other outflow channels, it was likely carved by liquid water, possibly released by volcanic subsurface heating in Tharsis/Lunae Planum region, either as a one-time catastropic event or multiple flooding events over a long time period. Others have proposed that certain landforms were produced by glacial rather than liquid flow.