Lunar Maria
The lunar maria (; singular: mare ) are large, dark, basaltic plains on Earth's Moon, formed by ancient asteroid impacts on the far side on the Moon that triggered volcanic activity on the opposite (near) side. They were dubbed , Latin for 'seas', by early astronomers who mistook them for actual seas. They are less reflective than the "highlands" as a result of their iron-rich composition, and hence appear dark to the naked eye. The maria cover about 16% of the lunar surface, mostly on the side visible from Earth. The few maria on the far side are much smaller, residing mostly in very large craters. The traditional nomenclature for the Moon also includes one (ocean), as well as features with the names ('lake'), ('marsh'), and ('bay'). The last three are smaller than maria, but have the same nature and characteristics. The names of maria refer to sea features ( Mare Humorum, Mare Imbrium, Mare Insularum, Mare Nubium, Mare Spumans, Mare Undarum, Mare Vaporum, Oceanus Procel ...
[...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  

Moon Names
The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It is the List of natural satellites, fifth largest satellite in the Solar System and the largest and most massive relative to its parent planet, with a diameter about one-quarter that of Earth (comparable to the width of Australia (continent), Australia). The Moon is a planetary-mass object with a planetary differentiation, differentiated Terrestrial planet, rocky body, making it a satellite planet under the geophysical definition of planet, geophysical definitions of the term and larger than all known dwarf planets of the Solar System. It lacks any significant Atmosphere of the Moon, atmosphere, hydrosphere, or Magnetic field of the Moon, magnetic field. Its surface gravity is about one-sixth of Earth's at , with Jupiter's moon Io (moon), Io being the only satellite in the Solar System known to have a higher surface gravity and density. The Moon orbits Earth at an lunar distance (astronomy), average distance of , or about 30 tim ...
[...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]