In planetary geology, rupes (, plural: )The two Latin forms, singular rūpes with a short 'e' and plural rūpēs with a long 'e', are spelled the same in English. are escarpments on planets other than Earth.
, the IAU has named 62 such features in the Solar System, on Mercury (17), Venus (7), the Moon (8), Mars (23), the asteroids Vesta (2) and Lutetia (2), and Uranus's satellites Miranda (2) and Titania (1).USGS Astrogeology: Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature - Feature Types
How rupes formed is, , a matter of speculation. Compressional strain from the cooling of the crust of terrestrial planets and large-scale displacement due to impacts are the two dominant theories.
The term "rupes" comes from the Latin word for "cliff."
See also Rupes on the Earth's moon Rupes on Mercury Rupes on Venus Rousillon Rupes Rupes Tenuis Verona Rupes
References