IAU descriptor term
Mensae in the Solar System
Mensa is the term planetary geologists use for a flat-topped elevation with cliff-like edges. 50 named features carry it, across 3 of the 14 mapped worlds, the largest being Nepenthes Mensae on Mars at 2,176 km.
Where they are
The largest mensae anywhere
Ranked across every mapped world, by catalogued diameter.
1Nepenthes MensaeMars2,176 km2Protonilus MensaeMars1,034 km3Deuteronilus MensaeMars919 km4Aeolis MensaeMars785 km5Cydonia MensaeMars765 km6Nilosyrtis MensaeMars676 km7Sacra MensaMars577 km8Nilokeras MensaeMars451 km9Amazonis MensaMars414 km10Eos MensaMars347 km11Olympia MensaeMars335 km12Zephyria MensaeMars334 km13Telegonus MensaeIo330 km14Tvashtar MensaeIo293 km15Capaneus MensaIo288 km16Pan MensaIo288 km17Capri MensaMars282 km18Melas MensaMars245 km19Coprates MensaMars240 km20Acidalia MensaMars227 km21Nilus MensaeMars207 km22Echo MensaIo205 km23Baetis MensaMars181 km24Prometheus MensaIo179 km25Australe MensaMars172 km26Chrysas MensaMars167 km27Ius MensaMars160 km28Ganges MensaMars136 km29Ceti MensaMars134 km30Hermes MensaIo133 km
What they are named after
Naming themes are set per world, so one descriptor can draw on very different sources depending on where it sits. Across all 50 mensae, 8 categories appear.
Greek26Latin14Roman3Celtic3Slovenia1China1India1Italy1