List of geological features on Ariel facts for kids
Ariel is one of the many moons orbiting the giant planet Uranus. It's a fascinating world with lots of cool geological features on its surface. These features are like big marks on the moon's face, such as valleys, long cracks, and impact craters. What's really neat is that almost all of these features are named after bright spirits from myths and legends around the world! This list will help you learn about some of these amazing places on Ariel.
Deep Valleys on Ariel
Ariel has long, deep grooves on its surface called valles (say: VAH-less). These valleys often run alongside even bigger cracks called chasms. They are like long, winding canyons.
Name | Size (km) | Named After |
---|---|---|
Leprechaun Vallis | 328 | Leprechauns from Irish mythology |
Sprite Vallis | 305 | Sprites from Celtic mythology |
Giant Chasms: Long Cracks on Ariel
Some of the biggest cracks or trenches on Ariel are called chasmata (say: kaz-MAH-tah). These are like huge, deep canyons or rifts in the moon's surface. They are formed when the moon's crust pulls apart.
Name | Length (km) | Named After |
---|---|---|
Brownie Chasma | 343 | Brownies from British folklore |
Kachina Chasma | 622 | Kachina from Hopi mythology |
Kewpie Chasma | 467 | Kewpie from British folklore |
Korrigan Chasma | 365 | Korrigans from Breton folklore |
Kra Chasma | 142 | Kra from the Akan belief system |
Pixie Chasma | 278 | Pixie from British folklore |
Sylph Chasma | 349 | Sylph from British folklore |
Impact Craters on Ariel
Craters are bowl-shaped holes on the surface of a moon or planet. They are usually made when space rocks, like asteroids or comets, crash into the surface. The size of the crater depends on how big and fast the space rock was.
Name | Size (km) | Named After |
---|---|---|
Abans | 20 | Aban from Persian mythology |
Agape | 34 | Agape from Spenser's writings |
Ataksak | 22 | Ataksak from Inuit mythology |
Befana | 21 | Befana from Italian folklore |
Berylune | 29 | Bérylune from Maurice Maeterlinck's play |
Deive | 20 | Deive from Lithuanian folklore |
Djadek | 22 | Djadek from Czech folklore |
Domovoy | 71 | Domovoi from Slavic mythology |
Finvara | 31 | Finvarra from Irish mythology |
Gwyn | 34 | Gwyn ap Nudd from Welsh mythology |
Huon | 40 | Huon of Bordeaux from French literature |
Laica | 30 | Laica from Incan mythology |
Mab | 34 | Queen Mab from English folklore |
Melusine | 50 | Melusine from French literature |
Oonagh | 39 | Oonagh from Irish mythology |
Rima | 41 | Rima from William Henry Hudson's Green Mansions |
Yangoor | 78 | Yangoor (a good spirit who brings daylight) |