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The dark patches on the Moon are large plains which were formed by lava flows early in the Moon's history. In the past, the Moon was heavily bombarded by the material leftover from planet formation. Some of the objects which hit the Moon were very big and formed large impact basins. These basins were then flooded by the darker volcanic material from the Moon's interior. The lava flows covered any craters in their path, so these plains have very few craters compared to other places on the Moon. People once thought that these dark patches were seas on the Moon, so these regions were given the name "maria" which is the latin word for seas. The maria cover about seventeen percent of the Moon's surface and are found mainly on the side of the Moon facing Earth

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What are the dark patches on the lunar surface?

The dark patches on the lunar surface are called lunar maria, which are large, flat areas formed by ancient volcanic activity. They are made up of dark-colored basaltic rock and are believed to have been created by lava flows billions of years ago.


Why can you see dark and light patches when you look at the moon?

The dark patches on the moon are known as lunar maria, which are ancient basaltic plains formed by volcanic activity. The light patches are highlands, which are older and more heavily cratered. The contrast between these two types of terrain creates the distinctive pattern of dark and light patches seen on the moon's surface.


What are the flat areas on the moon called?

Maria, or "seas", which is what "maria" means.


What was formed when lava flowed over Moon's surface?

When lava flowed over the Moon's surface, it formed vast plains known as maria. These are flat, dark areas that were created by ancient volcanic activity on the Moon. The lava flows filled in large impact basins, creating the smooth, dark patches we see on the lunar surface.


What are the dark shadows on the moon called?

The dark patches on the moon are called lunar maria, which are large basaltic plains formed by ancient volcanic activity. They appear dark compared to the surrounding highlands because they contain fewer reflective materials like aluminum and calcium.


Why is the moon so dark?

The moon appears dark because it does not produce its own light. Instead, it reflects sunlight, and its surface is covered in dark rocks and dust that absorb light rather than reflecting it. This lack of light reflection makes the moon appear dark to us on Earth.


What is the large dark matches of cooled lava on the moon?

The large dark patches of cooled lava on the moon are called maria, which is the Latin word for seas. These areas were formed by ancient volcanic activity and are made up of basaltic rock. They appear dark because they reflect less sunlight than the moon's highlands.


What are the dark features on the moon's surface?

The dark features on the moon's surface are called maria, which are vast plains formed by ancient volcanic activity. They appear darker than the surrounding areas because they are composed of basaltic rock, which is darker in color.


Why does moon appear to be patchy when you look at it?

The patchy appearance of the moon, known as the "Man in the Moon," is due to variations in the moon's surface brightness caused by differences in the mineral composition of the lunar soil. These variations create the illusion of distinct features like plains and craters when viewed from Earth.


What are maria on the moon?

The visible surface of the moon is divided into lighter and darker areas. The darker areas are called "Maria," which is the plural of the Latin word for "sea" (mare). These areas are vast lunar plains, and aren't literally seas, as they exist on earth.


A 'sea' on the moon is called a?

Maria. The dark patches on the moon were once thought to be seas and are called maria (Latin for `seas`). These are not actual seas containing water but are plains formed by ancient volcanic eruptions on the lunar surface. -RoryHem


What are dark like areas on the Moon's surface called?

The dark areas on the Moon's surface are called "maria," which is Latin for "seas." These regions are vast, basaltic plains formed by ancient volcanic eruptions. They appear darker than the surrounding highlands due to their composition and have fewer craters, indicating they are younger geological features.