Oceanus Procellarum
Description: Oceanus Procellarum, the Ocean of Storms, is the largest lunar mare, covering over 2,500 kilometers in diameter and comprising about 10% of the Moon's surface.
This immense basaltic plain was formed by massive volcanic eruptions filling a gigantic impact basin around 1.2 to 3.2 billion years ago. Its surface is marked by wrinkle ridges, small craters, and lava flows, with some areas showing younger basalts.
The region is geologically diverse, hosting unique features like dark mantle deposits and radioactive hotspots, providing key insights into the Moon's volcanic and tectonic past.
How I Got My Name:
"Oceanus Procellarum" means "Ocean of Storms" in Latin, named by early astronomers who associated lunar 'seas' with weather changes on Earth. The naming convention stems from Riccioli's 1651 map, reflecting the belief in lunar influence on terrestrial storms.
Interesting Fact:
Site of the Apollo 12 landing in 1969; contains the youngest lunar basalts dated to about 1.2 billion years old. GRAIL mission data revealed buried rift zones, suggesting the region is a large impact basin rather than a simple lava plain, revolutionizing our understanding of lunar geology.
Location:
Centered at 18.4° N, 57.4° W, 2568 km diameter.
