The surface of the Moon is a fascinating landscape marked by various features that tell the story of its geological history. Some of the key surface features include:
- Maria: These are the dark, flat plains on the Moon’s surface formed by ancient volcanic eruptions. They cover about 16% of the Moon and are less cratered than the highlands, indicating they are younger in age.
- Highlands: The highlands are the lighter, mountainous areas that dominate the Moon’s landscape. These regions are heavily cratered and represent the oldest parts of the Moon’s surface.
- Craters: The Moon is covered in craters of various sizes created by the impact of meteoroids and asteroids over billions of years. They vary from small pits to large basins, some hundreds of kilometers across.
- Rilles: Rilles are narrow channels that resemble dried riverbeds. They are believed to have formed from either lava flows or the collapse of underground lava tubes.
- Regolith: This is a layer of loose, fragmented material covering the Moon’s surface, made up of dust, soil, and broken rocks. Regolith is created by the weathering of rocks due to micrometeorite impacts.
These features not only highlight the Moon’s dynamic history but also provide insights into the processes that have shaped planetary bodies throughout the solar system.