Aeolis Palus

Aeolis Palus[1]
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Map of Gale Crater with Aeolis Mons rising from the middle of the crater. The Curiosity rover landing ellipse is shown on the northwestern crater floor, named Aeolis Palus.[2][3][4]
Coordinates4°28′S 137°25′E / 4.47°S 137.42°E / -4.47; 137.42

Aeolis Palus is a plain between the northern wall of Gale crater and the northern foothills of Aeolis Mons (Mount Sharp) on Mars. It is located at 4°28′S 137°25′E / 4.47°S 137.42°E / -4.47; 137.42.[1]

The NASA Mars Science Laboratory mission landed the Curiosity rover on Aeolis Palus in August 2012. Curiosity spent two (Earth) years exploring the plain as it drove towards Aeolis Mons. The rover left the plain in September 2014 when it reached the mountain's foothills.[5]

  1. ^ a b USGS (May 16, 2012). "Three New Names Approved for Features on Mars". USGS. Archived from the original on July 28, 2012. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  2. ^ NASA Staff (March 27, 2012). "'Mount Sharp' on Mars Compared to Three Big Mountains on Earth". NASA. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  3. ^ Agle, D. C. (March 28, 2012). "'Mount Sharp' On Mars Links Geology's Past and Future". NASA. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  4. ^ Staff (March 29, 2012). "NASA's New Mars Rover Will Explore Towering 'Mount Sharp'". Space.com. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  5. ^ Chang, Kenneth (September 11, 2014). "After a Two-Year Trek, NASA's Mars Rover Reaches Its Mountain Lab". The New York Times. Retrieved May 30, 2018.