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The Earth's Moon
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Mare Tranquillitatis (Sea of Tranquility)
A vast, flat, dark-colored area filled with basaltic lava flows. It is notable for being the landing site of Apollo 11, where humans first walked on the Moon.
Tycho Crater
A prominent lunar impact crater known for its bright ray system that stretches across the Moon, aiding in determining the age of regions by ray visibility.
Lunar Highlands
Elevated areas rich in anorthosite, representing the ancient crust of the Moon. They exhibit numerous impact craters indicating their old age.
Mare Imbrium (Sea of Rains)
One of the largest lunar maria, formed by ancient volcanic activity. It contributes key information about the Moon's geological past.
Rupes Altai (Altai Scarp)
An impressive lunar scarp stretching over 400 km. It marks the boundary of the Mare Nectaris and the highlands and is a result of tectonic activity.
Copernicus Crater
A prominent crater with terraced walls and a central peak, helping scientists understand impact cratering processes on the lunar surface.
Aristarchus Plateau
An area noted for its geological complexity and volcanic activity, containing both the Aristarchus Crater and Schroter's Valley, a sinuous rille.
Sinus Iridum (Bay of Rainbows)
A plain formed from lava filling an impact basin, surrounded by a mountainous ring. Its geological formations provide a record of volcanism and basin formation.
Clavius Crater
One of the largest crater formations on the Moon, containing smaller craters inside it, notable for stratigraphic studies of the lunar surface.
Lunar Regolith
The layer of loose, fragmented material over solid rock on the Moon, formed by constant meteoroid impacts and holding clues to the Moon's history.
South Pole-Aitken Basin
One of the largest and oldest impact structures on the Moon, its study offers insights into the lunar interior and the Moon's thermal history.
Lunar Apennines
A mountain range on the Moon formed from the uplifted edges of the impact basin that created Mare Imbrium, valuable for understanding lunar topography.
Mare Serenitatis (Sea of Serenity)
A lunar mare filled with basalt formed from ancient lava flows, bordered by scarps and graben indicative of past tectonic activity.
Taurus-Littrow Valley
The landing site of Apollo 17, characterized by highlands and mare features and is of particular interest for studying lunar geologic processes.
Mare Crisium (Sea of Crises)
A lunar mare characterized by its round shape, isolated from other maria, and holding important clues to early volcanic activity on the Moon.
Lunar Ray Systems
Streaks extending from impact craters, composed of ejected materials; they provide information on the age and composition of lunar surface materials.
Lunar Maria
Dark basaltic plains on the Moon's surface, formed from ancient volcanic eruptions; their composition and distribution provide clues to the Moon's geological history.
Oceanus Procellarum (Ocean of Storms)
The largest lunar mare, it is a geologically complex area that may be a giant impact basin filled with basalt and is important for understanding the Moon's volcanic history.
Lunar Domes
Small, rounded, volcanic features on the Moon indicative of ancient shield volcanoes, which provide insights into volcanic processes.
Descartes Highlands
A lunar region theorized to be volcanic in origin, consisting of hilly, rugged terrain; it was the Apollo 16 landing site.
Mare Humorum (Sea of Moisture)
A smaller lunar mare with well-defined borders, giving insight into the Moon's crustal structure and the effects of lava flow.
Hadley Rille
A sinuous rille near the Apollo 15 landing site, likely carved by ancient lava flows, which provides evidence of the Moon's volcanic past.
Central Peak Craters
Craters with peaks formed from the rebound of the lunar surface post-impact. They offer clues about the Moon's internal structure and composition.
Farside Highlands
The heavily cratered and mountainous area of the Moon's far side, holding important information on the impact history and crustal differences.
Schroter's Valley
The largest sinuous rille on the Moon, indicative of volcanic activity and complex geological processes.
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