In planetary geology

Planetary geology

Planetary geology, alternatively known as astrogeology or exogeology, is a planetary science discipline concerned with the geology of the celestial bodies such as the planets and their moons, asteroids, comets, and meteorites...

, scopulus (pl. scopuli) is the term used to describe a lobate or irregular escarpment

Escarpment

An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that occurs from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations.-Description and variants:...

. The word is from the Latin meaning a crag, cliff, or a rock at sea. The word is derived from the Greek σκόπελος, which means prominatory, peak, or headland

Headland

A headland is a point of land, usually high and often with a sheer drop, that extends out into a body of water.Headland can also refer to:*Headlands and bays*headLand, an Australian television series...

. The word can also mean a look-out place as indicated by its root σκόπε- (scope)--to view or look. In the early 1970s, the International Astronomical Union

International Astronomical Union

The International Astronomical Union IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy...

 (IAU) adopted scopulus as one of a number of official descriptor terms for topographic features 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...

 and other planets and satellites. One justification for using neutral Latin or Greek descriptors was that it allowed features to be named and described before their geology

Geology

Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...

 or geomorphology

Geomorphology

Geomorphology is the scientific study of landforms and the processes that shape them...

 could be determined. Currently, the IAU recognizes 54 descriptor terms. (See Planetary nomenclature

Planetary nomenclature

Planetary nomenclature, like terrestrial nomenclature, is a system of uniquely identifying features on the surface of a planet or natural satellite so that the features can be easily located, described, and discussed. The task of assigning official names to features is taken up by the International...

.) Thirteen features with the descriptor term scopulus are present on Mars.