Procellarum, Oceanus

Procellarum, Oceanus

(prŏ-sell -ă-rŭm) (Ocean of Storms) A vast irregular mare – possibly occupying an impact depression, the Gargantuan Basin – that covers a major part of the Moon's western nearside. It was the landing site for Lunas 9 and 13, Surveyors 1 and 3, and Apollo 12. It is one of the youngest areas on the Moon, parts of which may be less than 3000 million years old.

Collins Dictionary of Astronomy © Market House Books Ltd, 2006