6 maps that explain the Moon

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The Moon is the only natural satellite of our planet. It is the 5th-largest satellite and the second-densest satellite after Jupiter’s satellite Io in the Solar System among those whose densities are known.

The Moon appeared not long after Earth, about 4.5 billion years ago. The most generally believed explanation is that the Moon emerged from the rubble left over after a colossal collision between Earth and a likely Mars-sized body named Theia. A new study of Moon minerals implies that the Moon may be older than before thought.

The Moon is in simultaneous rotation with Earth, and therefore continually exposes the same side to our planet. Because of libration, 59 percent of the entire lunar surface can be observed from Earth.

1. Moon features you can see from Earth

2. High-resolution photograph of the Moon

The surface is distinguished by dark volcanic maria that fulfil the areas between the bright early crustal mountains and the apparent impact craters.

3. A Mercator projection of the Moon

Mercator projection Moon map features:

• The near side is the central 50 percent zone. The far side is the left and right 25 percent zones.
• All the big lunar maria are on the near side, as one can see.
• Oceanus Procellarum is the biggest lunar maria. Mare Moscoviense is the largest mare on the far Moon side.
• One can see the lunar maria cover only a small part of the lunar surface: about 16 percent.

4. Map of the Moon if its ‘seas’ were really seas

The map below presents what the moon’s surface might look like if the “Moon’s seas” were filled with water and became real seas.

5. Astrogeological survey of the Moon

In collaboration with NASA and the Lunar and Planetary Institute, the USGS Astrogeology Science Center has created a Moon’s astrogeology map.

6. The Geology of the Moon