2 – Maria formed when lava flowed out of the moon, filled large craters, and cooled to solid rock. The composition of the moon and the composition of Earth’s mantle are similar.
How were the Moon’s maria formed?
The maria were formed after large impacts from meteors carved out basins in the lunar crust. When the Moon was volcanic, magma seeped to the surface, filled the basins and eventually hardened, resulting in the relatively smooth flat areas seen today.
What is the maria on the Moon made of?
The Maria are mostly composed of dark basalts, which form from rapid cooling of molten rock from massive lava flows. The Highlands rocks are largely Anorthosite, which is a kind of igneous rock that forms when lava cools more slowly than in the case of basalts.
How did the maria and highlands form on the Moon?
The highlands are heavily cratered and mountainous. We have learned that the maria are relatively young areas on the Moon which were generated after very large impacts penetrated the crust of our Moon and excavated basins. During later volcanic episodes, liquid magma came to the surface and filled these basins.
Why does the Moon have maria?
During the formation of the Moon, lava flows were able to move through this thinner crust and flood the basins on the near side, but not as much on the far side of the Moon. The areas of these lava flows are what we now call maria, which is Latin for “seas”.
How did the lunar maria most likely originate quizlet?
How did the lunar maria most likely originate? : Huge impact craters filled with frozen carbon dioxide and dark-colored silt and dust/huge impact basins that were nearly filled with basaltic lava flows/Massive, basaltic comets melted when they hit the lunar surface/The solar wind eroded very wide, shallow basins that
What kind of rock makes up the moons maria?
The maria are composed predominantly of basalt, whereas the highland regions are iron-poor and composed primarily of anorthosite, a rock composed primarily of calcium-rich plagioclase feldspar.
What are the Marias on the Moon?
This is a list of maria (large, dark, basaltic plains) on the Moon. It includes other basaltic plains, including the one oceanus as well as features known by the names lacus, palus and sinus. The modern system of lunar nomenclature was introduced in 1651 by Giovanni Battista Riccioli.
Why are maria found only on the Earth facing side of the Moon?
The Moon’s rotation is tidally locked, so one side always faces the Earth.
What’s the difference between the maria and the highlands of the Moon?
Maria vs. Highlands
The side facing the earth consists of dark (basaltic) lava filled basins called mare (maria) or seas. The lighter areas are heavily impacted terrain called the highlands.
What formed the highlands on the Moon?
The Indian mission through the Moon mineralogy mapper has offered proof that the Moon’s highlands were formed by the eruption of a hot liquid inside the Moon’s surface popularly known as magma.
What caused the highlands on the Moon?
These meteorites formed from fragmental debris near the surface of the Moon. The lunar highlands represent the ancient lunar crust that has been gardened extensively by meteoritic bombardment, particularly during the early period of intense bombardment around 3.9 Ga ago, resulting in extensive brecciation.
What are the maria and how did they get that name?
The maria, or ‘seas’, were named by early astronomers who mistook them for actual oceans on the Moon, but of course today we know that no such large bodies of liquid water exist on the lunar surface.
What is maria in astronomy quizlet?
What is the definition of Maria? Maria are the large, smooth, dark areas of the Moon’s surface. They have few craters. This is a Latin word for “seas” (think of mare). These regions, like most of the Moon, are devoid of water.
What are the maria composed of quizlet?
The maria are composed chiefly of basalt. Basalts are also found on Earth, Venus, Mars—and to a much lesser extent—Mercury. The mountains on the Moon were formed by what process?
What is the main type of rock found in the maria?
The two most common kinds are basalts and anorthosites. The lunar basalts, relatively rich in iron and many also in titanium, are found in the maria.
Is the maria the original crust of the Moon?
When the Moon first formed, it was hot enough for the surface to be covered by a great ocean of molten rock. As this solidified, on occasion large meteors would hit the Moon and crack the thin, still-forming crust. Then molten rock came to the surface once more, becoming the maria we see today.
How much maria is on the Moon?
about 16%
The Moon’s maria cover about 16% of its surface, with the majority found on the Moon’s Earth-facing side.
Why is the maria of the Moon dark?
The maria appear dark due to their high iron and titanium content that lead to about half of the highlands albedo. The highlands are formed by anorthosite that is a porous rock composed mainly of plagioclase feldspar.
Which side of moon has more maria?
The lunar maria are found primarily on the earth side of the moon. One possible physical explanation for the unequal distribution is that the maria formed in accordance with hydrostatic equilibrium: the moon’s center of mass is closer to the earth’s side and the crust on the farside is thus thicker.
Does the near side of the Moon have more maria?
The lunar maria are the lowland basins of dark mineral deposits from volcanic eruptions. Ancient astronomers believed that the dark areas were actual oceans, which led to the name maria- or “seas” in latin. There is a 30% mare average on the near side and a 2% mare average on the far side.