Noachis Terra

A crater in Noachis Terra. The dunes here are linear, thought to be due to shifting wind directions.

Noachis Terra (lit. "Land of Noah") is an extensive southern landmass (terra) of the planet Mars. It lies west of the giant Hellas impact basin, roughly between the latitudes −20° and −80° and longitudes 30° west and 30° east, centered on Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.. It is in the Noachis quadrangle.

The term "Noachian epoch" is derived from this region.

MOLA map showing boundaries with other regions
MOLA map showing boundaries with other regions around the south pole of Mars
Crater that was buried in another age and is now being exposed by erosion, as seen by the Mars Global Surveyor, under the MOC Public Targeting Program.
Floor of crater in Noachis quadrangle, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program.
Erosion forms on floor of crater, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program

WikidarkdunesS0101212context.jpg

Context for image of dark dunes in next image. Picture taken with Mars Global surveyor under MOC Public Targeting Program.
Dark dunes (probably basalt), in an intracrater dune field, Noachis. Picture from Mars Global Surveyor, under the MOC Public Targeting Program.

Wide view of gullies in Arkhangelsky Crater, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program
Close-up of small channels in gullies in Arkhangelsky Crater, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program Patterned ground in the shape of polygons can be seen to the right. Note: this is an enlargement of the previous image from Arkhangelsky Crater.
Close-up of a gully showing a channel going across the apron, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program. Note: this is an enlargement of a previous image from Arkhangelsky Crater.