Part of the Solar System
Earth - Mars - Ceres
Mars is the fourth nearest planet to the sun, and is orbited by two moons: Phobos and Deimos. Formed at approximately 4568 MYA with the other terrestrial planets, Mars has a well-recorded geologic history and a timescale consisting of periods and epochs. While GTS2012 has proposed new, updated bases for the timescale, they are in ranges that are far from precise, and thus the older dates are used here, while the timescale below displays both bases. An alternative timescale has also been proposed based on mineral alteration and is shown here below the typical crater density scale.
Martian Crater Density Geologic Timescale:
Prenoachian Period - 4568-4100 MYA
Noachian Period - 4100-3700 MYA (GTS2012 base: 4180-4080)
-Early Noachian Epoch - 4100-3930 MYA (GTS2012 base: 4180-4080)
-Middle Noachian Epoch - 3930-3820 MYA (GTS2012 base: 4200-3800 MYA)
-Late Noachian Epoch - 3820-3700 MYA (GTS2012 base: 3900-3600 MYA)
Hesperian Period - 3700-3000 MYA (GTS2012 base: 3740-3500)
-Early Hesperian Epoch - 3700-3400 MYA (GTS2012 base: 3740-3500)
-Late Hesperian Epoch - 3400-3000 MYA (GTS2012 base: 3650-3200)
Amazonian Period - 3000-0 MYA (GTS2012 base: 3460-2000)
-Early Amazonian Epoch - 3000-1400 MYA (GTS2012 base: 3460-2000)
-Middle Amazonian Epoch - 1400-300 MYA (GTS2012 base: 2100-1000)
-Late Amazonian Epoch - 300-0 MYA (GTS2012 base: 600-200)
Martian Mineral Alteration Geologic Timescale:
Phyllocian Period - 4568-4000 MYA
Theiikian Period - 4000-3500 MYA
Siderikan Period - 3500-0 MYA