What are the dark spots on the moon - The dark spots on the moon are the craters that were created by the volcanic eruptions on the moon or by the collisions from celestial bodies like meteors, asteroids, comets, etc. These craters were termed Maria (a word meaning ‘sea’ in Latin).
Let’s dive deep into the science of what are the dark spots on the moon and how did the moon get them:
Here’s how the moon got its dark spots:
Studies have revealed that around 80% of the moon is comprised of anorthosite ( a grey material that reflects the sun rays ), and 16% of it is covered by solid basalt rock ( a dark material that doesn’t reflect any light ); thus, making it appear darker and black.
So, the dark spots on the moon are nothing but large seas of dried lava that are seen from the Earth. However, astronomers have given a couple of reasons for how and why these dark spots appeared on the lunar surface.
We all know that Today, the moon is cold, dark, and free from all sorts of volcanic activities. But in history, there was a time when many volcanic eruptions took place on the moon.
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The moon’s red hot mantle was full of boiling magma. So whenever the moon encountered any volcanic eruption, the magma would get out from the mantle.
As the gravity on the moon is much lesser than on the Earth, therefore, it flowed out like a cup that runs down. Slowly and gradually, this molten Basalt formed large seas of lava which turned into dark spots permanently.
Another possibility given by the astronomers is that at that time, space was full of collisions and crashing among the celestial bodies. Naturally, our moon also experienced many of these crashes.
Due to these collisions from asteroids, meteors, or comets, the molten Basalt flowed out and flooded the area, thus, causing the dark and black spots on the moon’s surface.
These dark spots on the moon were named as “Maria” by the astronomers as they thought these were the lunar seas. But in reality, these are the volcanic plains.
There are almost 22 different Maria covering 16% of the lunar surface, and almost all of them are seen from the Earth’s surface as the majority of them are present on the Earth-facing side of the moon.
Faqs
How big are the dark spots on the moon?
All the dark spots are unequal in diameter. Some are too small, having a diameter of around 30 miles, and some are too large enough to cover around 1600 miles (Ocean of storms).
What are the blue spots on the moon?
The blue spots that are visible on the moon are actually called Mare Tranquillitatis (the Sea of Tranquility) and Mare Fecunditatis (the Sea of Fertility). These areas are rich in Titanium that was produced by the solidification of magma.
Are the dark spots on the moon craters?
Yes, the dark spots on the moon are actually craters of different diameters. These were formed by the volcanic eruptions and the celestial collisions on the lunar surface.
What are the light spots on the moon called?
The light spots on the moon are called the lunar highlands. These are higher in altitude than the dark spots. These mountains were uplifted at the time of collisions and crashes.
What material are the dark spots on the moon made from?
The dark spots on the moon are composed of Basalt, a dark material that doesn’t reflect sunlight. It is the dried lava that flowed out from the lunar mantle due to volcanic activities and celestial collisions.
Conclusion
The dark spots on the moon are a result of happenings that took place billions of years ago. The volcanic explosions and the explosive collisions in space have made our moon a completely changed system than it was at the time of its birth.