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Hesperian

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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

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Definition

The middle of three systems (of time-stratigraphic units) or periods (the chronological equivalents to systems) in the Martian stratigraphic scheme, named after the region of Hesperia Planum (Hesperia: “The Occident”; see U.S. Geological Survey Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature). Depending on the different models to determine absolute ages on planetary surfaces by crater statistics, the Hesperian began ∼3.8 billion years ago and ended at some point between 3.55 and 1.8 billion years ago.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) e.V., Institut für Planetenforschung, Rutherfordstrasse 2, 12489, Berlin, Germany

    Ernst Hauber

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  1. Ernst Hauber
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Correspondence to Ernst Hauber .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Hauber, E. (2014). Hesperian. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_718-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_718-3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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