What did early astronomers, like Galileo, initially believe the dark lunar maria represented?
Answer
Great bodies of water
The name *maria* is Latin for 'seas,' derived from early observers who mistakenly believed these dark patches were large bodies of water.
Related Questions
What did early astronomers, like Galileo, initially believe the dark lunar maria represented?What specific minerals cause the lunar maria to appear dark due to their ability to absorb sunlight?What is the primary rock type that composes the bright, heavily cratered lunar highlands (*terrae*)?Geologically, what is the name for the dark, fine-grained igneous rock that forms the maria?What geological structures had to form first to allow the lava flows that created the maria?What key difference in crustal structure allowed magma to more readily form the maria surfaces?Compared to the highlands, how does the crater density of the maria surfaces generally compare?What common minerals, besides iron and titanium, are found within the matrix of lunar basalt?The maria surfaces are typically lower in elevation than the highlands because:When did the major volcanic eruptions that flooded the impact basins and formed the maria primarily occur?When considering future landing sites, what is a potential downside of the maria's surface rock compared to the highlands?