Utopia Glacier
Encyclopedia
Utopia Glacier is a glacier
encircled by Mariner Hill
, Syrtis Hill
, Natal Ridge
, and Ares Cliff
; the feature was named for Utopia Planitia
on the planet Mars, which was the landing site of the NASA Viking 2 Lander Mission on 3 September 1976. This name was applied to the feature by members of the Mars Oasis Party who were searching for life on the glacier
, much in the same manner as the satellite was on the planet Mars.
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
encircled by Mariner Hill
Mariner Hill
Mariner Hill is a prominent snow-free conical hill, rising to about 500 m, midway between Syrtis Hill and Two Step Cliffs, Alexander Island. Named by United Kingdom Antarctic Place-Names Committee in 1993 after Mariner 9, the NASA probe which was the first spacecraft to orbit the planet Mars, in...
, Syrtis Hill
Syrtis Hill
Syrtis Hill is a prominent snow-free conical terraced hill, rising to about 500 m, on the northwest corner of the Two Step Cliffs massif overlooking Viking Valley, Alexander Island. The hill is an important snow-free landmark and the site of biological and geological research...
, Natal Ridge
Natal Ridge
Natal Ridge is a prominent snow-free terraced ridge forming part of the north boundary of the Two Step Cliffs massif on Alexander Island. Named by United Kingdom Antarctic Place-Names Committee in 1993 in recognition of the geomorphological and biological surveys conducted by scientists from the...
, and Ares Cliff
Ares Cliff
Ares Cliff is a cliff in Antarctica. It is formed of pale-colored sandstone and rises to about , and is located east of Mars Glacier and north of Two Step Cliffs on the east side of Alexander Island...
; the feature was named for Utopia Planitia
Utopia Planitia
Utopia Planitia is the largest recognized impact basin on Mars with an estimated diameter of 3300 km, and is the Martian region where the Viking 2 lander touched down and began exploring on September 3, 1976. It is located at the antipode of Argyre Planitia, centered at...
on the planet Mars, which was the landing site of the NASA Viking 2 Lander Mission on 3 September 1976. This name was applied to the feature by members of the Mars Oasis Party who were searching for life on the glacier
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
, much in the same manner as the satellite was on the planet Mars.