List of plains on the Moon

thumb|[[NASA photo of the near side of the Moon with prominent lunar plains numbered. Blue labels indicate sinūs while red labels indicate maria as well as the sole oceanus, Oceanus Procellarum, which is numbered one. Other lunar plains, including lacūs and paludes, are not labeled.]]

The Moon has numerous named plains on its surface made of dark-appearing basaltic rocks. The plains are visibly prominent on the near side of the Moon because of their contrasting appearance from the surrounding lunar highlands, which are made up of anorthosite, an igneous rock containing significant concentrations of highly reflective plagioclase feldspar minerals. As with other topographical features on the Moon, the official nomenclature for lunar plains uses a Latin naming system. Due to their darker appearance, differing elevation from the highlands, and visual prominence, noted ancient Greek astronomers such as Plutarch believed the plains were water; subsequent astronomers such as Galileo Galilei and Michael van Langren built on this belief, using Latin words for water bodies in classifying them. The Latin classifications for lunar plains are oceanus (), mare (), lacus (), palus (), and sinus ().

The largest plain is Oceanus Procellarum ('), covering much of the western half of the Moon's near side and the only plain to be classified as an oceanus. Most other prominent plains on the near side are the lunar maria, while the Moon's lacūs, sinūs, and paludes are generally smaller and less visually prominent.

The classification of and other designations for lunar geographic features are determined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU)—the official international organization for the standardization of astronomy.

<!--Due to ______, the majority of the Moon's plains are concentrated on the near side, with there only being a few on the far side.

= List/explain those misidentified/unofficial

https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/links.html

https://web.archive.org/web/20030722015149/http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/science/atlas/mare/mare.htm

https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Page/moon1to1mShadedRelief?map=lo == error

https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Page/Moon1to1MAtlas

https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Page/Images

https://data.lroc.im-ldi.com/lroc/view_rdr/WAC_GLOBAL

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Geology

In its early stages of formation, the Moon's surface was largely molten, with its deep ocean of magma persisting for roughly tens of millions to hundreds of millions of years. After the cooling of the magma at the end of this period, minerals began to crystallize and differentiate, with heavier minerals sinking into the Moon's inner layers while the lighter, highly-reflective mineral of plagioclase feldspar rose to the surface and fused with other light, mafic-type crystals to form anorthosite rocks. The anorthosite accumulated to become an early stage of the Moon's outer crust. This early outer crust later became heavily bombarded by immense numbers of meteoroids and other solar system debris around 4 billion years ago, with substantial parts of the surface being blasted out to create craters and large basins. Millions of years after these massive impact basins formed, lava from the interior flowed up to the surface through cracks in the crust and filled the basins. The lava cooled into the dark, volcanic rock basalt, creating the lunar plains of today.

Currently, basaltic rock, which is also fine-grained and rich in iron, magnesium, and plagioclase feldspar, makes up most of the lunar plains' composition. As with the distribution of the lunar plains, basalt is also not uniformly distributed over the surface of the Moon, with approximately 26% of the Moon's near side and only 2% of its far side composed of basalt. Mare Moscoviense, named for Muscovy, a historical predecessor of Russia; and Sinus Lunicus, named for the Soviet space probe Luna 2 ( Lunik 2), which landed there in 1959. Because Mare Humboldtianum and Mare Smythii were established before the final nomenclature, they were maintained and not required to follow the name conventions. In the case of Mare Moscoviense, which was discovered by the Luna 3 and whose name was proposed by the Soviet Union, it was only accepted by the IAU with the justification that Moscow is a 'state of mind'.

<!--

Official astronomical names and designations are decided and registered by the IAU, which reviews proposed and

Following its founding in 1919, has official

Complete lede:

= Say how IAU approves official names and designations

= How many features have been approved since IAU founding in 1919

=================

singular lacus

plural lacūs

sinus

lacus & sinus are pronounced the same in English???

paludes

palus

palūs, palūdēs

=================

L. E. Andersson and Ewen A. Whitaker, NASA Catalogue of Lunar Nomenclature, NASA RP-1097, 1982, no ISBN.
Ben Bussey and Paul Spudis, The Clementine Atlas of the Moon, Cambridge University Press, 2004, .
Antonín Rükl, Atlas of the Moon, Kalmbach Books, 1990, .
Ewen A. Whitaker, Mapping and Naming the Moon, Cambridge University Press, 1999, .

=====unofficial=====

There was also a region on the Lunar farside that was briefly misidentified as a mare and named Mare Desiderii (Sea of Desire). It is no longer recognized.

Other former maria include:

Mare Parvum ("Small Sea"), immediately to the east of Inghirami

Mare Novum ("New Sea"), northeast of Plutarch

Mare Incognitum ("Unknown Sea")
Mare Struve ("Struve's Sea"), near Messala

Some sources also list a Palus Nebularum (Latin palūs nebulārum "Marsh of Mists") at 38.0° N, 1.0° E, but the designation for this feature has not been officially recognized by the IAU.

unofficial:

Sinus Gay-Lussac and Sinus Pietrosul - both in the Montes Carpatus

the Grimaldi crater by its darkened appearance may be misidentified as a small sea." Grimaldi's own article states, "The mare lava floor..."

=================

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_encyclopedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Gazetteer_of_Planetary_Nomenclature

usgs Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature author

https://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/galileopalazzostrozzi/object/GiovanniBattistaRiccioliJAlmagestumNovumZoom.html

https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Page/Moon1to1MAtlas

https://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar_resources/lc_dossier.pdf

https://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/mapcatalog/usgsTopo/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/pgm2016/pdf/7008.pdf

https://www.iau.org/Iau/Science/What-we-do/FAQs.aspx?WebsiteKey=9e4eaea2-b0d6-4c4b-bd18-913a208b91be

https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Page/Categories - The Moon

https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Page/Rules - Naming Conventions

https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Page/Rules - Lunar Basins Naming Conventions

https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/DescriptorTerms

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toponymy - geonyms

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Latin_phrases_(full)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planitia_Descensus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reiner_Gamma

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Module:Location_map/data/Moon/doc

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map%2B

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Location_markers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map/Creating_a_new_map_definition

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:GeoTemplate/moon

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Moon_texture.jpg

Convert all these coords into DMS, preserve order and everything else:

Convert these coordinates into this format, with each Mare name replacing INSERT_NAME: |align=right|

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List

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{|class="wikitable sortable" id="Table of lunar plains" caption="Tabulated list of plains of the Moon"

!scope="col"| Name<br>(in Latin)

!scope="col"| Name<br>(English translation)

!scope="col"| Diameter

!scope="col" style="width: 10px;"| Year

!scope="col" style="width: 50px;"| Quadrangles

!scope="col" class="unsortable"| Lunar coordinates

!scope="col" class="unsortable"|

!scope="row" align="left"|Mare Anguis

| Serpent Sea

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="44" align=right| LAC-44

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Mare Australe

| Southern Sea

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="116" align=right| LAC-116

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Mare Cognitum

| Sea that has become known

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="76" align=right| LAC-76

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Mare Crisium

| Sea of Crises

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="44" align=right| LAC-44

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Mare Fecunditatis

| Sea of Fecundity

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="80" align=right| LAC-80

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Mare Frigoris

| Sea of Cold

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="12" align=right| LAC-12

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Mare Humboldtianum

| Sea of Humboldt

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="15" align=right| LAC-15

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Mare Imbrium

| Sea of Showers

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="24" align=right| LAC-24

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Mare Ingenii

| Sea of Cleverness

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="119" align=right| LAC-119

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Mare Insularum

| Sea of Islands

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="57" align=right| LAC-57

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Mare Marginis

| Sea of the Edge

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="63" align=right| LAC-63

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Mare Moscoviense

| Sea of Muscovy

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="48" align=right| LAC-48

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Mare Nubium

| Sea of Clouds

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="94" align=right| LAC-94

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Mare Orientale

| Eastern sea

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="108" align=right| LAC-108

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Mare Serenitatis

| Sea of Serenity

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="42" align=right| LAC-42

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Mare Smythii

| Sea of Smyth

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="81" align=right| LAC-81

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Mare Tranquillitatis

| Sea of Tranquility

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="61" align=right| LAC-61

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Mare Undarum

| Sea of Waves

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="62" align=right| LAC-62

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Mare Vaporum

| Sea of Vapors

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="59" align=right| LAC-59

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Oceanus Procellarum

| Ocean of Storms

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="38" align=right| LAC-38

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Lacus Aestatis

| Lake of Summer

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="74" align=right| LAC-74

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Lacus Autumni

| Lake of Autumn

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="73" align=right| LAC-73

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Lacus Bonitatis

| Lake of Goodness

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="43" align=right| LAC-43

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Lacus Doloris

| Lake of Sorrow

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="41" align=right| LAC-41

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Lacus Excellentiae

| Lake of Excellence

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="110" align=right| LAC-110

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Lacus Felicitatis

| Lake of Happiness

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="41" align=right| LAC-41

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Lacus Gaudii

| Lake of Joy

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="42" align=right| LAC-42

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Lacus Hiemalis

| Wintry Lake

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="60" align=right| LAC-60

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Lacus Lenitatis

| Lake of Softness

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="60" align=right| LAC-60

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Lacus Luxuriae

| Lake of Luxury

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="50" align=right| LAC-50

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Lacus Mortis

| Lake of Death

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="26" align=right| LAC-26

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Lacus Oblivionis

| Lake of Forgetfulness

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="105" align=right| LAC-105

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Lacus Odii

| Lake of Hatred

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="41" align=right| LAC-41

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Lacus Perseverantiae

| Lake of Perseverance

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="62" align=right| LAC-62

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Lacus Solitudinis

| Lake of Solitude

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="100" align=right| LAC-100

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Lacus Somniorum

| Lake of Dreams

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="26" align=right| LAC-26

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Lacus Spei

| Lake of Hope

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="28" align=right| LAC-28

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Lacus Temporis

| Lake of Time

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="27" align=right| LAC-27

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Lacus Tenebrarum

| Lake of Darkness

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="144" align=right| LAC-144

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Lacus Timoris

| Lake of Fear

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="111" align=right| LAC-111

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Lacus Veris

| Lake of Spring

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="91" align=right| LAC-91

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Palus Epidemiarum

| Marsh of Epidemics

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="94" align=right| LAC-94

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Palus Putredinis

| Marsh of Decay

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="41" align=right| LAC-41

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Palus Somni

| Marsh of Sleep

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="61" align=right| LAC-61

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Sinus Aestuum

| Seething Bay

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="59" align=right| LAC-59

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Sinus Amoris

| Bay of Love

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="43" align=right| LAC-43

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Sinus Asperitatis

| Bay of Roughness

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="78" align=right| LAC-78

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Sinus Concordiae

| Bay of Harmony

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="61" align=right| LAC-61

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Sinus Fidei

| Bay of Trust

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="41" align=right| LAC-41

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Sinus Honoris

| Bay of Honor

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="60" align=right| LAC-60

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Sinus Iridum

| Bay of Rainbows

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="24" align=right| LAC-24

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Sinus Lunicus

| Lunik Bay

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="25" align=right| LAC-25

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Sinus Roris

| Bay of Dew

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="10" align=right| LAC-10

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Sinus Successus

| Bay of Success

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="62" align=right| LAC-62

|align=right|

|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|Sinus Viscositatis

| Bay of Stickiness

|align=right|

|align=left|

| data-sort-value="23" align=right| LAC-23

|align=right|

|align=left|

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|align=left|

!scope="row" align="left"|INSERT_NAME

| INSERT_TRANSL

|align=right|

!scope="row" align="left"|INSERT_NAME

| INSERT_TRANSL

|align=right|

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Clickable map

List of plains on the Moon

Geology

=================

=================

=====unofficial=====

=================

List

Clickable map

See also

Notes

References

External links