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This page describes an image Moon map from the NASA Clementine mission

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Image caption: A map of the Moon's surface constructed of images taken by the BMDO/NASA Clementine mission. The center of the image corresponds roughly to the center of the full moon. This map is a projection of the spherical moon onto a flat surface so the regions around the poles appear distorted, just as Antarctica appears distorted on a map of the Earth.

The large, dark patches in the center of the image are maria (singular mare). These are named after the Latin word for sea but they are not oceans like we have on Earth. Instead they are vast plains of basalt formed by lava that flowed out of volcanos on the moon billions of years ago. They appear darker and smoother than the older, lighter lunar highlands.
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Image credit: USGS Astrogeology Science Center; Credit Link

Related glossary terms: Mare , Moon
Categories: Solar System

Image license: Public Domain Public Domain icons

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Captions in Different Languages:

German
Image caption: Eine Karte der Mondoberfläche, die aus Bildern der BMDO/NASA-Mission Clementine erstellt wurde. Die Mitte des Bildes entspricht ungefähr der Mitte des Vollmondes. Diese Karte ist eine Projektion des kugelförmigen Mondes auf eine flache Oberfläche, so dass die Regionen um die Pole verzerrt erscheinen, so wie die Antarktis auf einer Karte der Erde verzerrt erscheint.

Die großen, dunklen Flecken in der Mitte des Bildes sind Maria (Singular Mare). Sie sind nach dem lateinischen Wort für Meer benannt, aber es handelt sich nicht um Ozeane, wie wir sie auf der Erde haben. Stattdessen handelt es sich um riesige Basaltflächen, die durch Lava entstanden sind, die vor Milliarden von Jahren aus Vulkanen auf dem Mond floss. Sie erscheinen dunkler und glatter als die älteren, helleren Hochländer des Mondes.
Image credit: USGS Astrogeology Science Center
Related glossary terms: Mare , Mond
Caption translation status: Not yet approved by a reviewer
Caption translators: Emma Krojanski

French
Image caption: Carte de la surface de la Lune construite à partir d'images prises par la mission Clementine du BMDO/NASA. Le centre de l'image correspond approximativement au centre de la pleine lune. Cette carte est une projection de la lune sphérique sur une surface plane, de sorte que les régions autour des pôles apparaissent déformées, tout comme l'Antarctique apparaît déformé sur une carte de la Terre.

Les grandes taches sombres au centre de l’image sont des maria (singulier mare). Leur nom vient du latin et signifie “mer”, mais il ne s’agit évidemment pas d’océans comme ceux que nous connaissons sur Terre. Il s'agit plutôt de vastes plaines de basalte formées par la lave qui s'est écoulée des volcans de la Lune il y a des milliards d'années. Elles apparaissent plus sombres et plus lisses que les hauts plateaux lunaires plus anciens et plus clairs.
Image credit: Centre scientifique d'astrogéologie de l'USGS ;
Related glossary terms: Lune , Mer
Caption translation status: Not yet approved by a reviewer
Caption translators: Olivier Bonneton

Italian
Image caption: Una mappa della superficie lunare costruita con le immagini riprese dalla missione Clementine del BMDO/NASA. Il centro dell'immagine corrisponde all'incirca al centro della Luna piena. Questa mappa è una proiezione della luna sferica su una superficie piana, quindi le regioni intorno ai poli appaiono distorte, proprio come l'Antartide appare distorto su una mappa della Terra.

Le grandi macchie scure al centro dell'immagine sono i maria (al singolare mare). Prendono il nome dalla parola latina che significa mare, ma non sono oceani come quelli che abbiamo sulla Terra. Si tratta invece di vaste pianure di basalto formate dalla lava fuoriuscita dai vulcani della Luna miliardi di anni fa. Appaiono più scure e lisce rispetto agli altipiani lunari più antichi e più chiari.
Image credit: Centro scientifico di astrogeologia dell'USGS;
Related glossary terms: Luna , Mare
Caption translation status: Not yet approved by a reviewer
Caption translators: Giuliana Giobbi

Portuguese BR
Image caption: Um mapa da superfície da Lua construído a partir de imagens captadas pela missão BMDO/NASA Clementine. O centro da imagem corresponde aproximadamente ao centro da lua cheia. Este mapa é uma projeção da lua esférica numa superfície plana, de modo que as regiões próximas aos polos aparecem distorcidas, tal como a Antártida aparece distorcida num mapa da Terra.

As grandes manchas escuras no centro da imagem são maria (singular mare). Elas receberam esse nome em homenagem à palavra latina para mar, mas não são oceanos como os que temos na Terra. Em vez disso, são vastas planícies de basalto formadas pela lava que fluiu dos vulcões da Lua bilhões de anos atrás. Elas parecem mais escuras e lisas do que as terras altas lunares mais antigas e claras.
Image credit: USGS Astrogeology Science Center;
Related glossary terms: Mare , Moon
Caption translation status: Not yet approved by a reviewer
Caption translators: Eduardo Monfardini Penteado