Back Dao Vallis Catalan Dao Vallis Czech Dao Vallis German Dao Vallis Spanish Dao Vallis French Dao Vallis Italian ダオ峡谷 Japanese Dao Vallis Polish Dao Vallis Portuguese Долина Дао Ukrainian
 Dao Vallis is the leftmost channel, joined just above the center of the image by Niger Vallis. In each valley water flowed toward the bottom of the image. The caldera of Hadriacus Mons is at upper left. | |
| Coordinates | 38°42′S 272°06′W / 38.7°S 272.1°W |
|---|---|
| Length | 816.0 km |
| Naming | Word for "star" in Thai |
Dao Vallis is a valley on Mars that appears to have been carved by water. It runs southwestward into Hellas Planitia from the southern slopes of the volcano Hadriacus Mons, and has been identified as an outflow channel.[1] It and its tributary, Niger Vallis, extend for about 1,200 km (750 mi).[2]
It is named after the Thai word for star, and it was proposed as a potential landing site for the 2012 Curiosity rover of the Mars Science Laboratory mission.[3] In the fictional 2007 Canadian miniseries Race to Mars, it is the landing site for Gagarin, the lander.
- ^ Carr, M.H. (2006), The Surface of Mars. Cambridge Planetary Science Series, Cambridge University Press.
- ^ Crown, D. A.; Bleamaster, L. F.; Mest, S. C. (2003). "Geologic Evolution of Dao Vallis, Mars". AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts. 2003: P11B–1035. Bibcode:2003AGUFM.P11B1035C.
- ^ "MSL Workshop Summary" (PDF). April 27, 2007. Retrieved May 29, 2007.