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They thought they were lunar "seas" like the oceans on earth. They are actually vast plains. But even today, they are still called "seas".
Many early astronomers thought the dark spots on the moon were "seas". That is how all the lunar maria got their name, such as "Mare Tranquillitatis" which translates into "The Sea of Tranquility".

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Why there are the dark spots on the moon?

craters


How were the dark spots on the moon formed?

i think when the moon cooled down.


What appears as dark spots in a lunar eclipse?

Dark spots on the moon during a lunar eclipse are caused by the Earth blocking direct sunlight from reaching the moon. These dark spots are the shadow of the Earth falling on the moon's surface, which gives the moon its reddish appearance during a total lunar eclipse.


How does the moon look?

The moon is a sphere about one- seventh of the earth's size. It has dark spots and bright spots and craters.


What are the dark spots and the light areas on the moon called?

Reforming


How were the dark spots on the moon made?

They were created by meteors hitting the moon and making craters.


What are the dark spots and light areas on the moon called?

The dark spots on the moon are called lunar maria, which are large plains formed by ancient volcanic activity. The lighter areas are called highlands, which are rugged and densely cratered regions of the moon's surface.


What different surfaces does the moon have?

The moon has plains,mountains,and many craters. The moon also has unactive volcanoes and dark spots called seas.


Why are the gray spots on the moon?

The dark areas on the moon are called maria. They are enormous impact craters that were once flooded with lava early in the moon's history.


What type of rock makes up the dark spots on the Moon?

The dark spots on the Moon, known as lunar maria, are made up of basalt rock formed from ancient volcanic activity. Basalt is a dark-colored, fine-grained volcanic rock that is rich in iron and magnesium minerals.


What causes the dark spots on the surface of the moon?

The dark spots on the surface of the moon, known as lunar maria, are caused by ancient volcanic eruptions that filled large basins with basaltic lava. These lava flows solidified to create the smooth, dark areas that we see on the moon's surface.


What are the bright spots called that occur as the moon covers the sun?

The lighter parts on the moon are mountains and highlands. They are more visible as they are at higher elevations. The darker parts are lunar maria, basins cut out by ancient lava flows. They have less craters than the highlands, as the lunar maria were formed after the time period where the most lunar impacts occurred.