The far side of the Moon is the side that always faces away from the Earth, while the near side faces towards the Earth. Mapping purposes divide the Moon into the near side and far side. The goal was to create a resource for science research and analysis to support future geologic mapping efforts. This map is a 1:5,000,000-scale geologic map built from six separate digital maps. Lay of the Land: Reading the Contours of the Moon Gilbert, of the USGS, the Moon was formed by the joining of a ring of meteorites which once encircled the Earth, and after the formation of the lunar sphere, the impact of meteors produced “craters” instead of arising from volcanic activity.Įither way, mapping the current contours of the lunar landscape will guide future human missions to the Moon by revealing regions that may be rich in useful resources or areas that need more detailed mapping to land a spacecraft safely. However, there is another explanation for these lunar craters. One opinion of those who have studied the Moon is that it was once a liquid mass, and that its craters represent widespread and prolonged volcanic activity, when the gases and lava of the heated interior exploded to the surface. Recent scientific study brings forward two primary ideas. The pot marks on the Moon can be easily seen from the Earth’s surface with the naked eye, and it has led to numerous theories as to the history of the Moon. Such lunar myths have waned as technology has evolved, removing the mystery of the Moon but also opening up scientific debate. This legend describes the Moon’s waxing and waning including the big crater on the Moon, visible from Earth. He broke off one of his tusks and hurled it toward the Moon, cursing him so that he would never be whole again. On observing this, Chandra laughed, causing Ganesha to lose his temper. An overstuffed Ganesha fell to the ground on his stomach, vomiting out his dinner. On the journey, a snake crossed his pathway, frightening his horse. According to one Hindu legend, Ganesha-an elephant-headed deity-was returning home on a full moon night after a feast. Just like her brother that illuminated the day, she was referred to as the torch bringer during the dark of night.Ĭhandra means the “Moon” in Sanskrit, Hindi, and other Indian languages. A headdress with a lunar disk sitting atop a crescent moon denoted Thoth as the arbiter of times and seasons.Īrtemis was the twin sister of the sun god Apollo, and in Greek mythology she presided over childbirth, fertility, and the hunt. Thoth was portrayed as a wise counselor who solved disputes and invented writing and the 365-day calendar. To the Egyptians it was the god Thoth, to the Greeks, the goddess Artemis, and to the Hindus, Chandra. Over time different cultures wrapped the Moon in their own myths. It is one of the few celestial bodies visible to the naked eye from Earth. Since the beginning of humankind, the Moon has captured our collective imagination. Today’s post is the incredible Unified Geologic Map of the Moon from the USGS, which combines information from six regional lunar maps created during the Apollo era, as well as recent spacecraft observations. If you were to land on the Moon, where would you go? Mapped: The Geology of the Moon in Astronomical Detail
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