lunar seas
Dark satellite basins
Lunar seas are the dark, flat plains visible on the Moon's surface, formed by ancient volcanic eruptions that filled impact basins with basalt.
Early astronomers mistook these regions for bodies of water, giving them names like Sea of Tranquility and Ocean of Storms.
The Latin term *maria* (singular *mare*) remains standard in astronomy: The Apollo 11 landing site was in the lunar sea called Mare Tranquillitatis.
- basaltFine-grained volcanic stone
- GalileoRenaissance astronomer from Italy
- Apollo missionsNASA's lunar exploration program
- cratersImpact-formed depressions
- CopernicusRenaissance astronomer, heliocentrism
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