Dave's Astronomy Pictures :: The Moon - Mare Crisium Basin and area, 1 April 2006

Mare Crisium (Sea of Crises) is a circular "sea" on the eastern part of the moon's earth-facing side. It is quite easily recognisable because the mare doesn't connect with any other mare or expanses of lava. It is also quite clear to see the rings of the basin structure left after the impact that created the mare. The inner ring is formed by the wrinkle ridges around the mare, Dorsa Tetyaev, Harker, and Oppel. The rocky "shoreline" that forms the boundary of the mare is clearly the next ring. Other sections of a ring even further out have been claimed, although it is difficult to identify clearly. North is to the left on this image. The north-eastern boundary of the mare is adjoined by another narrow curved section of mare called Anguis. Immediately to the north of Crisium is the large crater Cleomedes, a crater with a terraced rim and a large flat floor with a central mountain and several small craters. Further to the North, beyond the craters Geminus and Burckhardt is the large shallow crater Messala.
Move the mouse over the image to see feature names, move it out to see the undecorated picture.



Move the mouse over the image to see feature names, move it out to see the undecorated picture.
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