This is a list of maria (large, dark, basaltic plains) on the Moon. It includes other basaltic plains, including the one oceanus as well as features known by the names lacus, palus and sinus. The modern system of lunar nomenclature was introduced in 1651 by Giovanni Battista Riccioli.[1] Riccioli's map of the Moon was drawn by Francesco Maria Grimaldi, who has a crater named after him.
| Latin Name | English Name | Lat. | Long. | Diameter (km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mare Anguis | Serpent Sea | 22.6° N | 67.7° E | 150 |
| Mare Australe | Southern Sea | 38.9° S | 93.0° E | 603 |
| Mare Cognitum | Sea of Knowledge | 10.0° S | 23.1° W | 376 |
| Mare Crisium | Sea of Crises | 17.0° N | 59.1° E | 418 |
| Mare Fecunditatis | Sea of Fecundity | 7.8° S | 51.3° E | 909 |
| Mare Frigoris | Sea of Cold | 56.0° N | 1.4° E | 1596 |
| Mare Humboldtianum | Sea of Alexander von Humboldt | 56.8° N | 81.5° E | 273 |
| Mare Humorum | Sea of Moisture | 24.4° S | 38.6° W | 389 |
| Mare Imbrium[2] | Sea of Showers | 32.8° N | 15.6° W | 1123 |
| Mare Ingenii | Sea of Cleverness | 33.7° S | 163.5° E | 318 |
| Mare Insularum | Sea of Islands | 7.5° N | 30.9° W | 513 |
| Mare Marginis | Sea of the Edge | 13.3° N | 86.1° E | 420 |
| Mare Moscoviense | Sea of Moscow | 27.3° N | 147.9° E | 277 |
| Mare Nectaris | Sea of Nectar | 15.2° S | 35.5° E | 333 |
| Mare Nubium | Sea of Clouds | 21.3° S | 16.6° W | 715 |
| Mare Orientale | Eastern Sea | 19.4° S | 92.8° W | 327 |
| Mare Serenitatis | Sea of Serenity | 28.0° N | 17.5° E | 707 |
| Mare Smythii | Smyth's Sea | 1.3° N | 87.5° E | 373 |
| Mare Spumans | Foaming Sea | 1.1° N | 65.1° E | 139 |
| Mare Tranquillitatis | Sea of Tranquility | 8.5° N | 31.4° E | 873 |
| Mare Undarum | Sea of Waves | 6.8° N | 68.4° E | 243 |
| Mare Vaporum | Sea of Vapors | 13.3° N | 3.6° E | 245 |
| Oceanus Procellarum | Ocean of Storms | 18.4° N | 57.4° W | 2568 |
There was also a region on the Lunar farside that was briefly misidentified as a mare and named Mare Desiderii (Sea of Desire). It is no longer recognized. Other former maria include:
A related set of features are the Lunar lacus /ˈleɪkəs/ (singular also lacus, Latin for "lake"),[a] which are smaller basaltic plains of similar origin:
| Latin Name | English Name | Lat. | Long. | Diameter (km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lacus Aestatis | Lake of Summer | 15.0° S | 69.0° W | 90 |
| Lacus Autumni | Lake of Autumn | 9.9° S | 83.9° W | 183 |
| Lacus Bonitatis | Lake of Goodness | 23.2° N | 43.7° E | 92 |
| Lacus Doloris | Lake of Sorrow | 17.1° N | 9.0° E | 110 |
| Lacus Excellentiae | Lake of Excellence | 35.4° S | 44.0° W | 184 |
| Lacus Felicitatis | Lake of Happiness | 19.0° N | 5.0° E | 90 |
| Lacus Gaudii | Lake of Joy | 16.2° N | 12.6° E | 113 |
| Lacus Hiemalis | Lake of Winter | 15.0° N | 14.0° E | 50 |
| Lacus Lenitatis | Lake of Softness | 14.0° N | 12.0° E | 80 |
| Lacus Luxuriae | Lake of Luxury | 19.0° N | 176.0° E | 50 |
| Lacus Mortis | Lake of Death | 45.0° N | 27.2° E | 151 |
| Lacus Oblivionis | Lake of Forgetfulness | 21.0° S | 168.0° W | 50 |
| Lacus Odii | Lake of Hatred | 19.0° N | 7.0° E | 70 |
| Lacus Perseverantiae | Lake of Perseverance | 8.0° N | 62.0° E | 70 |
| Lacus Solitudinis | Lake of Solitude | 27.8° S | 104.3° E | 139 |
| Lacus Somniorum | Lake of Dreams | 38.0° N | 29.2° E | 384 |
| Lacus Spei | Lake of Hope | 43.0° N | 65.0° E | 80 |
| Lacus Temporis | Lake of Time | 45.9° N | 58.4° E | 117 |
| Lacus Timoris | Lake of Fear | 38.8° S | 27.3° W | 117 |
| Lacus Veris | Lake of Spring | 16.5° S | 86.1° W | 396 |
A related set of features are the sinus /ˈsaɪnəs/ (singular sinus, Latin for "bay")[b] and paludes /pəˈluːdiːz/ (singular palus /ˈpeɪləs/, Latin palūs, palūdēs "marsh"):
| Latin Name | English Name | Lat. | Long. | Diameter (km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palus Epidemiarum | Marsh of Epidemics | 32.0° S | 28.2° W | 286 |
| Palus Putredinis | Marsh of Decay | 26.5° N | 0.4° E | 161 |
| Palus Somni | Marsh of Sleep | 14.1° N | 45.0° E | 143 |
| Sinus Aestuum | Seething Bay | 10.9° N | 8.8° W | 290 |
| Sinus Amoris | Bay of Love | 18.1° N | 39.1° E | 130 |
| Sinus Asperitatis | Bay of Roughness | 3.8° S | 27.4° E | 206 |
| Sinus Concordiae | Bay of Harmony | 10.8° N | 43.2° E | 142 |
| Sinus Fidei | Bay of Trust | 18.0° N | 2.0° E | 70 |
| Sinus Honoris | Bay of Honor | 11.7° N | 18.1° E | 109 |
| Sinus Iridum | Bay of Rainbows | 44.1° N | 31.5° W | 236 |
| Sinus Lunicus | Lunik Bay | 31.8° N | 1.4° W | 126 |
| Sinus Medii | Bay of the center | 2.4° N | 1.7° E | 335 |
| Sinus Roris | Bay of Dew | 54.0° N | 56.6° W | 202 |
| Sinus Successus | Bay of Success | 0.9° N | 59.0° E | 132 |
Some sources also list a Palus Nebularum (Latin palūs nebulārum /ˈpeɪləs nɛbjʊˈlɛərəm/ "Marsh of Mists") at 38.0° N, 1.0° E. However the designation for this feature has not been officially recognized by the IAU.
