[8][9][10] The basin was subsequently mostly filled in, resulting in a mascon (a strong positive gravity anomaly) detectable by orbiting satellites.

[17] On November 22, 2016, NASA reported finding a large amount of underground ice in the Utopia Planitia region.

A typical scalloped depression displays a gentle equator-facing slope and a steeper pole-facing scarp.

Scalloped depressions are believed to form from the removal of subsurface material, possibly interstitial ice, by sublimation.

[25] In the Star Trek media franchise, Utopia Planitia—both on Mars' surface and a space station in areosynchronous orbit above it—is the site of a major United Federation of Planets shipyard, the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards.