Lunar mare facts for kids
Have you ever looked at the Moon and seen dark patches? These dark areas are called mare (say "MAH-ray"). The word "mare" means "sea" in Latin. If there are many of them, they are called maria (say "MAH-ree-ah").
Ancient astronomers thought these dark plains were actual seas and oceans on the Moon. But they are not water! These huge, flat areas were formed by ancient volcanic eruptions. They are made of a type of rock that contains a lot of iron. Because of this, they reflect less sunlight than the brighter, higher parts of the Moon. This is why they look dark to our eyes.
The maria cover about 16% of the Moon's surface. Most of them are on the side of the Moon that we can always see from Earth.
First Moon Landing
One famous lunar mare is called Mare Tranquillitatis. This "Sea of Tranquility" was the landing spot for the first people to ever walk on the Moon!
On July 20, 1969, at 8:18 PM UTC, the Apollo 11 spacecraft landed there. Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped out onto the Moon's surface. The exact spot where they landed is at 0°40′27″N 23°28′23″E / 00.67408°N 23.47297°E. This was a huge moment in human history!
Images for kids
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This map shows how much light the Moon's surface reflects. The dark areas are the lunar maria, and the lighter areas are the highlands.
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This picture shows an "irregular mare patch." It's evidence of recent volcanic activity on the Moon, from October 2014.
See also
In Spanish: Mar lunar para niños
