Alba Patera

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Alba Patera

(al -bă) Probably the largest central-vent volcanic structure on Mars. Located north of the Tharsis Ridge, it is centered on the aerographic coordinates 40° N latitude, 109° W longitude (see areography). It has a low dome containing a central caldera and enclosed by a ring of fractures 600 km in diameter. Associated lava flows cover an area more than 1500 km across. See Mars, volcanoes.

Collins Dictionary of Astronomy © Market House Books Ltd, 2006

References in periodicals archive ?

Here we report on specific white clouds forming in the afternoon over Alba Patera, Olympus Mons (aka Nix Olympica), the Tharsis Montes (Ascraeus Mons, Pavonis Mons and Arsia Mons) and Elysium Mons.

At high resolution, the general whiteness often seen in Alba is seen to be more compact, and associated with the low volcano Alba Patera. Casquinha first caught the small white orographic cloud E.

The opposition of Mars, 2007: Part II

To their north sits Alba Mons, also known as Alba Patera, one of the largest volcanoes in the Solar System by area and volume.

Pit chains on Mars may provide clues for life on red planet

The uncertainty about how substantial the atmosphere of Mars used to be arises from an area known as Alba Patera in the Martian northern hemisphere, according to Virginia C.

The Martian atmosphere: old versus new

Here we report on specific white clouds over Alba Patera, Olympus Mons ('Nix Olympica'), the Tharsis Montes (Ascraeus Mons, Pavonis Mons and Arsia Mons) and Elysium Mons (Figures 14-16; and Part I, Figures 4F, 5).