What was maria once believed to be by Galileo?

Answer 1

Maria, or the dark plains on the Moon, were once believed by Galileo to be vast oceans or seas. He referred to these features as "maria," the Latin word for "seas," based on their appearance through his telescope. Galileo's observations in the early 17th century contributed to the misconception that the Moon had large bodies of water, rather than being dry, solid surfaces. This misunderstanding persisted until further lunar exploration revealed the true nature of these plains.