Map of the Moon If Its “Seas” Were Really Seas

Map created by reddit user FummyThe map above shows what the moon might look like if the “seas” were filled with water and became actual seas. In terms of determining the seas levels, “it’s not done by altitude, but it’s more to do with relative brightness or darkess. I’ve just increased the contrast to make it more obvious how the seas are said to connect.”

Wikipedia explains that:

The lunar maria are large, dark, basaltic plains on Earth’s Moon, formed by ancient volcanic eruptions. They were dubbed maria, Latin for “seas”, by early astronomers who mistook them for actual seas. They are less reflective than the “highlands” as a result of their iron-rich composition, and hence appear dark to the naked eye.

The maria cover about 16% of the lunar surface, mostly on the side visible from Earth.

Here is the complete list:

Latin Name	English Name	Diameter (km)
Mare Anguis	Serpent Sea	150
Mare Australe	Southern Sea	603
Mare Cognitum	Sea of Knowledge	376
Mare Crisium	Sea of Crises	418
Mare Fecunditatis	Sea of Fecundity	909
Mare Frigoris	Sea of Cold	1596
Mare Humboldtianum	Sea of Alexander von Humboldt	273
Mare Humorum	Sea of Moisture	389
Mare Imbrium	Sea of Showers	1123
Mare Ingenii	Sea of Cleverness	318
Mare Insularum	Sea of Islands	513
Mare Marginis	Sea of the Edge	420
Mare Moscoviense	Sea of Moscow	277
Mare Nectaris	Sea of Nectar	333
Mare Nubium	Sea of Clouds	715
Mare Orientale	Eastern Sea	327
Mare Serenitatis	Sea of Serenity	707
Mare Smythii	Smyth's Sea	373
Mare Spumans	Foaming Sea	139
Mare Tranquillitatis	Sea of Tranquility	873
Mare Undarum	Sea of Waves	243
Mare Vaporum	Sea of Vapors	245
Oceanus Procellarum	Ocean of Storms	2568

Former mare include:

• Mare Desiderii (Sea of Desire).
• Mare Parvum (“Small Sea”), immediately to the east of Inghirami
• Mare Incognitum (“Unknown Sea”)
• Mare Novum (“New Sea”), northeast of Plutarch
• Mare Struve (“Struve’s Sea”), near Messala

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