Editing Planetary nomenclature (section)

== {{anchor|feature types}} Descriptor terms (feature types) ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Feature
! Pronunciation{{NoteTag|Listed pronunciations are conventional or follow the [[traditional English pronunciation of Latin]] words. However, some speakers use different (often variable) pronunciations that are closer to the Latin or Greek.}}
! Description
! Designation
|- 
| [[Albedo feature]]
| {{IPAc-en|æ|l|ˈ|b|iː|d|oʊ}}
| An area which shows a contrast in brightness or darkness (albedo) with adjacent areas. This term is implicit.
| AL
|- 
| Arcus, arcūs
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɑːr|k|ə|s}}
| Arc: curved feature
| AR
|-
| Astrum, astra
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|æ|s|t|r|ə|m}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|æ|s|t|r|ə}}
| Radial-patterned features on [[Venus]]
| AS
|- 
| [[Crater chain|Catena, catenae]]
| {{IPAc-en|k|ə|ˈ|t|iː|n|ə}}, {{IPAc-en|k|ə|ˈ|t|iː|n|iː}}
| A chain of craters e.g. [[Enki Catena]].
| CA
|- 
| [[Cavus (planetary nomenclature)|Cavus, cavi]]
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|eɪ|v|ə|s}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|eɪ|v|aɪ}}
| Hollows, irregular steep-sided depressions usually in arrays or clusters
| CB
|- 
| [[Chaos terrain|Chaos]]
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|eɪ|ɒ|s}}
| A distinctive area of broken or jumbled terrain e.g. [[Iani Chaos]].
| CH
|- 
| [[Chasma|Chasma, chasmata]]
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|æ|z|m|ə}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|æ|z|m|ə|t|ə}}
| Deep, elongated, steep-sided depression e.g. [[Eos Chasma]].
| CM
|- 
| [[Collis (planetary nomenclature)|Collis, colles]]
| {{IPAc-en|'|k|ɒ|l|ᵻ|s}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|ɒ|l|iː|z}}
| A small hill or knob.
| CO
|- 
| [[Corona (planetary geology)|Corona, coronae]]
| {{IPAc-en|k|ɒ|ˈ|r|oʊ|n|ə}}, {{IPAc-en|k|ɒ|ˈ|r|oʊ|n|iː}}
| An oval feature. Used only on Venus and [[Miranda (moon)|Miranda]].
| CR
|- 
| Crater, craters
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|r|eɪ|t|ər}}
| A circular depression (in most cases [[Impact crater|created by impact event]]). This term is implicit.
| AA
|- 
| [[Wrinkle-ridge|Dorsum, dorsa]]
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|ɔːr|s|əm}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|ɔːr|s|ə}}
| Ridge, sometimes called a wrinkle ridge e.g. [[Dorsum Buckland]].
| DO
|- 
| Eruptive center
|
| An [[Volcanology of Io|active volcano]] on [[Io (moon)|Io]]. This term is implicit.
| ER
|- 
| [[wikt:facula|Facula]], [[Facula (disambiguation)|faculae]]
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|æ|k|j|ʊ|l|ə}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|æ|k|j|ʊ|l|iː}}
| Bright spot
| FA
|- 
| Farrum, farra
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|ær|ə|m}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|ær|ə}}
| Pancake-like structure, or a row of such structures. Used only on Venus.
| FR
|- 
| Flexus, flexūs
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|l|ɛ|k|s|ə|s}}
| Very low curvilinear ridge with a scalloped pattern
| FE
|- 
| Fluctus, fluctūs
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|l|ʌ|k|t|ə|s}}, {{IPAc-en|f|l|ʌ|k|ˈ|t|u:|s}}
| Terrain covered by outflow of liquid. Used on Venus, Io, Titan, and Mars.
| FL
|- 
| Flumen, flumina
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|l|uː|m|ᵻ|n}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|l|uː|m|ᵻ|n|ə}}
| Channel on [[Titan (moon)|Titan]] that might carry liquid
| FM
|-
| [[Fossa (geology)|Fossa, fossae]]
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|ɒ|s|ə}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|ɒ|s|iː}}
| Long, narrow, shallow depression
| FO
|- 
| Fretum, freta
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|r|iː|t|əm}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|r|iː|t|ə}}
| Strait of liquid connecting two larger areas of liquid. Used only on Titan.
| FT
|- 
| Insula, insulae
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɪ|n|sj|uː|l|ə}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɪ|n|sj|uː|l|iː}}
| Island (islands), an isolated land area (or group of such areas) surrounded by, or nearly surrounded by, a liquid area (sea or lake). Used only on Titan.
| IN
|-
| [[Labes|Labes, labēs]]
| {{IPAc-en|'|l|eɪ|b|ᵻ|s}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|eɪ|b|iː|z}}
| Landslide debris. Used only on Mars and 1 Ceres. 
| LA
|- 
| Labyrinthus, labyrinthi
| {{IPAc-en|l|æ|b|ᵻ|ˈ|r|ɪ|n|θ|ə|s}}, {{IPAc-en|l|æ|b|ᵻ|ˈ|r|ɪ|n|θ|aɪ}}
| Complex of intersecting valleys or ridges.
| LB
|- 
| Lacuna, lacunae
| {{IPAc-en|l|ə|ˈ|k|juː|n|ə}}, {{IPAc-en|l|ə|ˈ|k|juː|n|iː}}
| Irregularly shaped depression having the appearance of a dry lake bed. Used only on Titan.
| LU
|-
| Lacus, lacūs
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|eɪ|k|ə|s}}
| A "lake" or small plain on Moon and Mars; on Titan, a "true lake" of dark liquid hydrocarbons ''or'' a small, dark plain with discrete, sharp boundaries; on Pluto, a small isolated glacier
| LC
|- 
| colspan=2|Landing site name
| Lunar features at or near [[Project Apollo|Apollo]] landing sites
| LF
|- 
| colspan=2|Large ringed feature
| Cryptic ringed features
| LG
|- 
| Lenticula, lenticulae
| {{IPAc-en|l|ɛ|n|ˈ|t|ɪ|k|j|ʊ|l|ə}}, {{IPAc-en|l|ɛ|n|ˈ|t|ɪ|k|j|ʊ|l|iː}}
| Small dark spots on [[Europa (moon)|Europa]]
| LE
|- 
| Linea, lineae
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|ɪ|n|iː|ə}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|ɪ|n|iː|iː}}
| Dark or bright elongate marking, may be curved or straight
| LI
|- 
| Lingula, lingulae
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|ɪ|ŋ|g|j|ʊ|l|ə}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|ɪ|ŋ|g|j|ʊ|l|iː}} 
| Extension of plateau having rounded lobate or tongue-like boundaries
| LN
|- 
| Lobus
| 
| Lobes of contact binaries. Currently used only on Arrokoth.
| LO
|-
| [[Macula (planetary geology)|Macula, maculae]]
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|æ|k|j|ʊ|l|ə}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|æ|k|j|ʊ|l|iː}}
| Dark spot, may be irregular
| MA
|- 
| [[Lunar mare|Mare]], maria
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɑːr|iː|,_|-|eɪ}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɑːr|i|ə}}
| A "sea": on the Moon, a low albedo, relatively smooth plain, generally of large extent; on Mars, dark albedo area, e.g. [[Mare Erythraeum]]; on Titan, large expanses of dark materials thought to be liquid hydrocarbons, e.g. [[Ligeia Mare]].
| ME
|- 
| [[Mensa (geology)|Mensa, mensae]]
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɛ|n|s|ə}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɛ|n|s|iː}}
| A flat-topped prominence with cliff-like edges, i.e. a [[mesa]].
| MN
|- 
| [[Mons (planetary nomenclature)|Mons, montes]]
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɒ|n|z}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɒ|n|t|iː|z}}
| Mons refers to a mountain.  Montes refers to a mountain range.
| MO
|- 
| Oceanus
| {{IPAc-en|oʊ|ˈ|s|iː|ə|n|ə|s}}
| Very large dark area. The only feature with this designation is [[Oceanus Procellarum]].
| OC
|- 
| Palus, paludes
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|eɪ|l|ə|s}}, {{IPAc-en|p|ə|ˈ|lj|uː|d|iː|z}}
| "Swamp"; small plain. Used on the Moon and Mars.
| PA
|- 
| [[Patera (planetary nomenclature)|Patera, paterae]]
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|æ|t|ər|ə}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|æ|t|ər|iː}}
| Irregular crater, or a complex one with scalloped edges e.g. [[Ah Peku Patera]].  Usually refers to the dish-shaped depression atop a volcano.
| PE
|- 
| [[Planitia|Planitia, planitiae]]
| {{IPAc-en|p|l|ə|ˈ|n|ɪ|ʃ|ə}}, {{IPAc-en|p|l|ə|ˈ|n|ɪ|ʃ|iː}}
| Low plain e.g. [[Amazonis Planitia]].
| PL
|- 
| Planum, plana
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|l|eɪ|n|ə|m}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|l|eɪ|n|ə}}
| A [[plateau]] or high plain e.g. [[Planum Boreum]].
| PM
|- 
| Plume, plumes
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|l|uː|m}}
| A [[cryovolcano|cryovolcanic]] feature on [[Triton (moon)|Triton]]. This term is currently unused.
| PU
|- 
| Promontorium, promontoria
| {{IPAc-en|p|r|ɒ|m|ə|n|ˈ|t|ɔər|i|ə|m}}, {{IPAc-en|p|r|ɒ|m|ə|n|ˈ|t|ɔər|i|ə}}
| "Cape"; headland. Used only on the Moon.
| PR
|- 
| Regio, regiones
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|iː|dʒ|i|oʊ}}, {{IPAc-en|r|ɛ|dʒ|i|ˈ|oʊ|n|iː|z}}
| Large area marked by reflectivity or color distinctions from adjacent areas, or a broad geographic region
| RE
|- 
| Reticulum, reticula
| {{IPAc-en|r|ᵻ|ˈ|t|ɪ|k|j|ʊ|l|ə|m}}, {{IPAc-en|r|ᵻ|ˈ|t|ɪ|k|j|ʊ|l|ə}}
| reticular (netlike) pattern on Venus
| RT
|- 
| Rima, rimae
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|aɪ|m|ə}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|aɪ|m|iː}}
| Fissure. Used only on the Moon and [[21 Lutetia]].
| RI
|- 
| [[Rupes|Rupes, rupēs]]
| {{IPAc-en|'|r|uː|p|ᵻ|s}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|uː|p|iː|z}}
| Scarp
| RU
|-
| Saxum, saxa
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|æ|k|s|ə|m}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|æ|k|s|ə}}
| Boulder or rock
| SA
|-
| Satellite feature
|
| A feature that shares the name of an associated feature, for example [[Hertzsprung (crater)#Satellite craters|Hertzsprung D]].
| SF
|-
| [[Scopulus]], scopuli
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|k|ɒ|p|j|ʊ|l|ə}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|k|ɒ|p|j|ʊ|l|aɪ}}
| Lobate or irregular scarp
| SC
|- 
| Serpens, serpentes
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|ɜːr|p|ə|n|z}}, {{IPAc-en|s|ər|ˈ|p|ɛ|n|t|iː|z}}
| Sinuous feature with segments of positive and negative relief along its length
| SE
|- 
| Sinus, sinūs
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|aɪ|n|ə|s}}
| "Bay"; small plain on Moon or Mars, e.g. [[Sinus Meridiani]]; On Titan, bay within bodies of liquid.
| SI
|- 
| Sulcus, sulci
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|ʌ|l|k|ə|s}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|ʌ|l|s|aɪ}}
| Subparallel furrows and ridges
| SU
|-
| {{anchor|Terra|terra}}Terra, terrae
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ɛr|ə}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ɛr|iː}}
| Extensive land mass e.g. [[Arabia Terra]], [[Aphrodite Terra]].
| TA
|- 
| Tessera, tesserae
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ɛ|s|ər|ə}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ɛ|s|ər|iː}}
| An area of tile-like, polygonal terrain. This term is used only on Venus.
| TE
|- 
| [[Tholus]], tholi
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|θ|oʊ|l|ə|s}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|θ|oʊ|l|aɪ}}
| Small domical mountain or hill e.g. [[Hecates Tholus]].
| TH
|- 
| Undae, undae
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|ʌ|n|d|iː}}
| A field of dunes. Used on Venus, Mars and Titan.
| UN
|- 
| Vallis, valles
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|v|æ|l|ᵻ|s}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|v|æ|l|iː|z}}
| A valley e.g. [[Valles Marineris]].
| VA
|- 
| Vastitas, vastitates
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|v|æ|s|t|ᵻ|t|ə|s}}, {{IPAc-en|v|æ|s|t|ᵻ|ˈ|t|eɪ|t|iː|z}}
| An extensive plain. The only feature with this designation is [[Vastitas Borealis]].
| VS
|-
| Virga, virgae
| {{IPAc-en|ˈ|v|ɜːr|ɡ|ə}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|v|ɜːr|dʒ|iː}}
| A streak or stripe of color. This term is currently used only on Titan.
| VI
|}