List of geological features on Ganymede

This is a list of named geological features, except craters, on Ganymede, a moon of Jupiter. The list is complete as of August 2022.

Catenae (crater chains) Catenae on Ganymede are named after deities from Ancient Near Eastern mythologies. Name Coordinates Diameter (km) Approval Date Namesake Refs Enki Catena 160 1997 Enki, Principal water god of the Apsu. Khnum Catena 66 1997 Khnum, Egyptian creation god. Nanshe Catena 103.8 1997 Goddess of springs and canals, daughter of Enki. Terah Catena 283 2000 Phoenician moon god who battled with Keret in Negeb.

Faculae Bright patches on Ganymede's surface, called faculae (some of which are palimpsests or ghost craters), are named after important and sacred places from Ancient Egyptian mythology. Name Coordinates Diameter (km) Approval Date Namesake Refs Abydos Facula 180 1985 Abydos, Egyptian town where Osiris was worshipped. Akhmin Facula 245 1997 Akhmim, Egyptian town where Min was worshipped. Bigeh Facula 224 2000 Bigeh, island where Hapi, Egyptian Nile god, resided. Busiris Facula 369 1985 Busiris, town in lower Egypt where Osiris was first installed as local god. Buto Facula 245 1985 Swamp where Isis hid Osiris' body. Coptos Facula 329 1985 Coptos, early town from which caravans departed. Edfu Facula 184 1985 Edfu, Egyptian town where Horus was worshipped. Heliopolis Facula 50 1997 Heliopolis, sacred Egyptian city of the sun. Hermopolis Facula 260 1997 Hermopolis, place where Unut was worshipped. Memphis Facula 361 1985 Memphis, ancient capital of lower kingdom. Siwah Facula 220 1985 Siwa, oasis oracle of Zeus-Ammon; visited by Alexander. Tettu Facula 189 1985 Egyptian town where Hatmenit and Osiris were worshipped. Thebes Facula 360 1985 Thebes, ancient capital of upper kingdom.

Fossae (ditches) Fossae on Ganymede are named after deities and theological principles from Middle Eastern mythologies. Name Coordinates Diameter (km) Approval Date Namesake Refs Lakhamu Fossa 370 1985 Dragon monster, or divine natural force produced by Apsu and Tiamat. Lakhmu Fossae 3,700 1985 Lahmu, dragon monster, or divine natural force produced by Apsu and Tiamat. Zu Fossae 2,900 1985 Anzû (Zu), dragon of chaos slain by Marduk.

Paterae Isolated, shallow depressions on Ganymede's surface, called paterae, are named after dried-up river valleys (known as wadis) that are found in the Middle East. Name Coordinates Diameter (km) Approval Date Namesake Refs Hammamat Patera 45 2015 Wadi Hammamat in Egypt, associated with petroglyphs and ancient mining. Hamra Patera 43 2015 Wadi in Jordan, associated with red sandstone cliffs and ancient copper mines. Musa Patera 69 2015 Wadi Musa in Jordan, proximal to Petra archeological site. Natrun Patera 37.5 2015 Wadi El Natrun in Egypt, site of ancient monasteries, proximal to site of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's aircraft crash that inspired the novella “The Little Prince”. Rum Patera 38 2015 Wadi Rum in Jordan associated with travels of T. E. Lawrence, petroglyphs, and several Neolithic sites. Yaroun Patera 96 2015 Wadi Yaroun in Lebanon, Neolithic archaeological site.

Regiones Regiones, which are dark, ancient regions on Ganymede's surface, are named after astronomers who contributed to the discovery of Jupiter's moons. Name Coordinates Diameter (km) Approval Date Namesake Refs Barnard Regio 3,200 1979 Edward E.; American astronomer (1857–1923). Galileo Regio 4,440 1979 Galileo Galilei, Italian astronomer (1564–1642). Marius Regio 4,940 1979 Simon; German astronomer (1570–1624). Melotte Regio 4,100 2013 Philibert Jacques; British astronomer (1880–1961). Nicholson Regio 3,900 1979 Seth Barnes; American astronomer (1891–1963). Perrine Regio 3,800 1979 Charles D.; American astronomer (1867–1951).

Sulci Sulci are brighter, younger, and relatively smoother, grooved terrains on Ganymede. They are mostly named after deities, heroes, and important places from Middle Eastern mythologies. Others are named after places and concepts associated with the mythological Trojan prince Ganymede and his home kingdom of Troy from Greek mythology. One is named after a mythological place from Maya mythology. Name Coordinates Diameter (km) Approval Date Namesake Refs Akitu Sulcus 365 1997 Where Marduk's statue was carried each year. Anshar Sulcus 1,372 1979 Assyro-Babylonian; celestial-world home of Lakhmu and Lakhamu. Apsu Sulci 1,950 1979 Sumero-Akkadian; primordial ocean. Aquarius Sulcus 1,420 1979 Greek; Zeus set Ganymede among the stars as the constellation of Aquarius, the water carrier. Arbela Sulcus 1,940 1985 Assyrian town where Ishtar was worshipped. Babylon Sulci 3,100 July 29, 2013 Assyro-Babylonian town in the land known as Akkad. Borsippa Sulcus 3,300 July 29, 2013 Akkadian town, location of the Sumerian god Nabu's principal sanctuary Bubastis Sulci 2,651 1988 Town in Egypt where Bast was worshipped. Byblus Sulcus 645 1997 Ancient Phoenician city where Adonis was worshipped. Dardanus Sulcus 2,988 1979 Greek; where Ganymede was abducted by Zeus disguised as an eagle. Dukug Sulcus 385 1985 Sumerian holy cosmic chamber of the gods. Elam Sulci 1,855 1985 Ancient Babylonian seat of sun worship, in present-day Iran. Erech Sulcus 953 1985 Akkadian town that was built by Marduk. Harpagia Sulcus 1,792 1985 Greek; where Ganymede was abducted by an eagle. Hursag Sulcus 750 1985 Sumerian mountain where winds dwell. Kishar Sulcus 1,187 1979 Assyro-Babylonian; terrestrial-world home of Lakhmu and Lakhamu. Lagash Sulcus 1,575 1985 Early Babylonian town. Larsa Sulcus 1,000 2000 Sumerian town. Mashu Sulcus 2,960 1979 Assyro-Babylonian; mountain with twin peaks where sun rose and set. Mummu Sulcus 2,680 July 29, 2013 Assyro-Babylonian; the tumult of the waves at the place where the waters of primordial freshwater ocean Apsu and salt sea Tiamat are mingled. Mysia Sulci 5,066 1979 Greek; where Ganymede was abducted by an eagle. Nineveh Sulcus 1,700 1997 City where Ishtar was worshipped. Nippur Sulcus 1,425 1985 Sumerian city. Nun Sulci 1,500 1979 Egyptian; chaos; primordial ocean; held germ of all things. Philae Sulcus 900 1997 Temple that was the chief sanctuary of Isis. Philus Sulcus 465 1979 Greek; where Ganymede and Hebe were worshipped as rain-givers. Phrygia Sulcus 3,700 1979 Greek; kingdom in Asia Minor where Ganymede was born. Shuruppak Sulcus 2,800 2000 Assyro-Babylonian town on the banks of the Euphrates River where the gods planned the great flood. Sicyon Sulcus 2,125 1979 Greek; where Ganymede and Hebe were worshipped as rain-givers. Sippar Sulcus 1,508 1985 Ancient Babylonian town. Tiamat Sulcus 1,330 1979 Assyro-Babylonian; tumultuous sea from which everything was generated. Umma Sulcus 1,270 2000 Sumerian town. Ur Sulcus 1,145 1985 Ancient Sumerian seat of moon worship. Uruk Sulcus 2,200 1979 Babylonian city ruled by Gilgamesh. Xibalba Sulcus 2,200 1997 Mayan "place of fright"; destination of those who escaped violent death.

Dropped names Name Coordinates Diameter (km) Approval Date Notes Refs Sais Facula 137.0 1988 Dropped and Disallowed. Sais, worship center of Neith, Egyptian goddess of creation, archery, fate, and weaving. Sais Facula was later identified as a crater chain (catena), not a facula. It is now called Enki Catena.

List of geological features on Ganymede

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