Definition
Meridiani Planum is an extended plain on Mars centered at 357.5°E/0.2°N in the western part of an Albedo feature called Sinus Meridiani. Meridiani Planum was the landing site of the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity (MER) in 2004. In Meridiani Planum cross-bedded sedimentary rocks are exposed that contain crystalline hematite (Fe2O3) and sulfate-rich Minerals such as jarosite. The presence of the latter mineral indicates an acid and saline environment and a soil saturated with liquid water during a considerable period of time. Airy-0, a small crater of 0.5 km in diameter at 0°E/5.1°S, defines the prime meridian of Mars. It is located within the larger (40 km) crater Airy in southern Meridiani Planum.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this entry
Cite this entry
Jaumann, R. (2014). Meridiani (Mars). In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_959-4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_959-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
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