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During the early stages of the Earth and Moon (relatively early) the Earth was very hot. The Moon was much closer to Earth at that time, and the heat from the Earth made material transfer to the far side of the Moon. This resulted in a thicker crust. When the Earth and Moon were hit by many asteroids, magma from the inner Moon oozed out onto the surface and cooled in to Maria. But on the far side, the crust was thicker so not as many collisions could penetrate the surface, resulting in fewer maria.
Wiki User
∙ 8y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoSince the maria are the result of lava flows, it seems likely that the near side was more influenced by Earth's gravity (You know how the Moon's gravity affects the Earth's tides; it also causes "land tides" although these are only a few inches, not several feet. The Earth is 81 times as massive as the Moon, so OUR tidal effects on IT are pronounced) and the lava flowed more freely there.
This was in an earlier age. The Moon has since cooled right down to its core, and there are no more lava flows. However, most of the heavy bombardment which raised the meteor craters was also in an earlier period.
Another viewpoint: the Moon's surface "crust" is probably thinner on the nearside. So, big impacts, millions of years ago, would have penetrated the crust more easily on the nearside. That released material to form the "maria".
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoAn excellent question, for which we have only speculations. When we go there and drill some boreholes, we may have a better answer.
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What percentage of near side of moon consists of lunar maria?
17%
As the moon moves around Earth a person on Earth doesnt always see the fully lit side of the moon This phenomenon causes A eclipses of the moon B phases of the moon C an increase in apogee D a?
B: The Phases of the Moon.
How much of the moon iis always lit up by sun?
All sides are lit up. Only one side at a time. There is a term called the dark side of the moon. This term relates to the fact that the moon doesnt spin on its axis like the earth does and one side faces the earth all of the time. The dark side refers not to the abscence of light but radio waves. During the Apollo missions to the moon, as a spacecraft went behind the moon (in relation to the earth) It went into whats called a radio blackout. It was called the dark side because up until the first spacecraft orbited the moon, it had never been seen by man before.
What phase of the moon occurs when all of the moons near side is sunlit?
During the New moon, the lighted side of the Moon is the OTHER side, the side we never see.
How does the gravitational pull of the moon on the side of Earth facing the moon compare with its pull on the opposite side?
It is weaker
The side of the moon facing Earth has?
more maria.
What are maria and how are they formed?
Lunar Maria-'Maria' is a Latin word meaning "seas". The singular form is mare. They are large, dark, balsaltic plains found on the surface of the moon. Astronomers believe they were originally formed by ancient volcanic eruptions. To the naked eye, they appear very dark, and this is due to iron-rich composition. They cover nearly 15% of the moon's surface - most of which is on the near side to the Earth (the side we can see).In fact, it is because of Lunar Maria that people often think they see a face in the moon.
What percentage of near side of moon consists of lunar maria?
17%
As the moon moves around Earth a person doesnt always see the fully lit side of the moon this cause what phenomenon?
Phases of the moon.
How is the far side of the moon different from the side you see?
Almost all the maria are on the near side. The far side is mostly just craters.
Why are more Maria found on the side of the moon facing earth than on the opposite side?
Because i like pie
As the moon moves around the earth a person on earth doesnt always see the fully lit side of the moon The phenomenon causes?
phases of the moon.
What is the largest part of the moon?
Apart from the Moon itself? I would guess at the maria which covers 31% of the surface (Near side). or The Mantle.
What do photos of the far side of the moon show?
The crater shapes and shading is different but otherwise the same as this side. Comment: There's one big difference between the far side and the near side of the Moon. The far side lacks the "maria" which are such a feature of the near side.
As the moon moves around earth a person on earth doesnt always see the fully lit side of the moon this phenomenon?
I'm pretty sure this is because the phases of the moon.
Does the moon reflect all the sunlight falling on it?
no in Afghanistan when the moon is here the sun goes to the other side of the equator so the sun is behind the moon. you see because the moon doesnt make its own light the moon reflects off the sun which makes it look like the moon produces its own light but it doesnt. it gets its light from the sun. so the the sun keeps its light but it looks like it doesnt exactly
Why does the moon appear to have dark patches on its surface?
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
