Pavonis Mons

Pavonis Mons
THEMIS daytime IR mosaic of Pavonis Mons. A large fan-shaped expanse of knobby deposits (the Pavonis Sulci) believed left by past glaciation extends northwestward from the mountain.
Feature typeShield volcano
Coordinates1°29′N 247°02′E / 1.48°N 247.04°E / 1.48; 247.04[1]
Peak8.7 km (5.4 mi) 28,543 ft (8,700 m)
DiscovererMariner 9 (1971)
EponymLatin - Mount Peacock

Pavonis Mons /pəˈvoʊnɪs ˈmɒnz/[2] (Latin for "peacock mountain") is a large shield volcano located in the Tharsis region of the planet Mars. It is the middle member of a chain of three volcanic mountains (collectively known as the Tharsis Montes) that straddle the Martian equator between longitudes 235°E and 259°E. The volcano was discovered by the Mariner 9 spacecraft in 1971, and was originally called Middle Spot.[3] Its name formally became Pavonis Mons in 1973.[4] The equatorial location of its peak and its height make it the ideal terminus for a space elevator,[5][6] and it has often been proposed as a space elevator location, especially in science fiction. It is also an ideal location for a Sky Ramp.

  1. ^ "Pavonis Mons". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
  2. ^ "Pavo". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d.
    "Mons". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d.
  3. ^ Carr, Michael H. (1973). "Volcanism on Mars". Journal of Geophysical Research. 78 (20): 4049–4062. Bibcode:1973JGR....78.4049C. doi:10.1029/JB078i020p04049.
  4. ^ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature". planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov.
  5. ^ Genta, Giancarlo (2017). Next Stop Mars. Switzerland: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-44311-9. ISBN 978-3-319-44311-9.
  6. ^ Morton, Oliver (October 4, 2002). Mapping Mars. Picador. p. 296. ISBN 9780312707934.