description Mare Imbrium Basin Overview
Mare Imbrium occupies a broad impact basin on the Moon's nearside and forms one of the large dark areas visible from Earth. A major collision created the basin approximately 3.85 billion years ago. Later volcanic activity filled much of its interior with basaltic lava, producing the mare, or lunar plain, that gives the feature its familiar dark appearance. The distinction between the impact basin and its younger lava fill is central to understanding this site.
Its surrounding terrain preserves evidence of the collision, while the plain records a later stage of lunar volcanism. Geologists and planetary scientists study both to investigate the processes that shaped the Moon and the history of early solar system impacts. Mare Imbrium is therefore useful for readers comparing how impact excavation and subsequent volcanic filling can contribute to a single visible lunar feature.
help Mare Imbrium Basin FAQ
Where is the Mare Imbrium Basin located?
The Mare Imbrium Basin is a massive impact crater located on the nearside of Earth's Moon. It forms the right "eye" of the famous "Man in the Moon" face that is visible from Earth with the naked eye.
How old is the Mare Imbrium Basin?
Geological analysis of rocks brought back by the Apollo missions indicates the Mare Imbrium Basin was formed approximately 3.85 billion years ago. The impact occurred during the Late Heavy Bombardment period, a time when the inner solar system was frequently struck by massive asteroids.
What spacecraft have landed in the Mare Imbrium Basin?
In 1970, the Soviet Union's Luna 17 lander successfully delivered the Lunokhod 1 rover to the Sea of Rains, making it the first remote-controlled rover to explore another celestial body. China's Chang'e 3 lander and its Yutu rover also touched down in the northern part of the basin in 2013.
Why is the Mare Imbrium Basin filled with dark, flat rock?
Following the massive asteroid impact that carved out the basin, the crater filled with massive, basaltic lava flows roughly 3 to 4 billion years ago. When this ancient molten rock cooled, it formed the dark, relatively smooth plains that characterize the moon's "maria" (seas) today.
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