ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Fossa (planetary nomenclature)

Imagine you have a big map of a planet. On this map, you see different names for different places on the planet, just like your house has a name or your school has a name. These names help people identify and remember where things are on the planet.

One of the names you might see on the planet's map is "fossa." A fossa is a special name given to a long, narrow depression or trench on the planet's surface. It's like a big, deep ditch that goes for a long distance. Instead of being flat like the ground around it, a fossa is lower and can sometimes be very steep.

Scientists and explorers like to give special names to these features on planets because it helps them talk about and study different places. Plus, these names are a lot easier to remember than saying "long, narrow depression" every time!

Each fossa on a planet can have a different name, so scientists can keep track of them and distinguish one from another. Sometimes, these names are inspired by real life experiences, history, or mythology.

So, the next time you look at a map of a planet and see the name "fossa," you'll know that it's a special type of landform, like a big, deep ditch, and it helps people find their way around on the planet's surface.