Transcript Features of the Moon

Features of the Moon
Highlands, Maria, Craters, Rilles
And
The History of the Moon
Highlands and Maria
There are two main types of terrain on the
Moon
• Highlands: Mountainous areas of a light
color.
• Maria: Low, Flat ancient lava plains, dark
in color.
Craters
The Moon’s Surface is dotted with craters.
• They are the result of the impacts of meteors
• The most recent craters have light colored “Rays” of
debris that streak out away from the crater
• Craters have scattered dust all over the Moon
creating a soil-like layer called the Regolith
Unlike craters on Earth where tectonic and erosion
forces gradually erase them,
On the moon there are no such forces so they last
forever
Some Craters have
central peaks.
Others don’t
Rilles
Narrow snakelike canyons
Supposed to
have been
formed by
ancient lava
flows
The Early Moon
Early in its History the Moon still had a fluid
mantle like the Earth
During this period asteroids struck it causing
giant lava flows that became the Maria
Rilles also formed during this volcanically
active period.
The Moon Cools
How fast something cools
depends on size.
Since the Moon is ¼ the radius of
the Earth it cools at least four
times quicker
The Recent Moon
Now the Moon’s Mantle is solid and
rigid
There is no more volcanic activity
The Newest features on the Moon are
the Craters with Rays
The “far-side” of the Moon is more
exposed to meteors and thus is
completely covered with craters.