mare

mare

Any flat, low, dark plain on the Moon. Maria are huge impact basins containing lava flows marked by ridges, depressions (graben), and faults; though mare means “sea” in Latin, they lack water. The best-known is probably Mare Tranquillitatis (“Sea of Tranquillity”), the site of the Apollo 11 manned Moon landing. Most of the approximately 20 major maria are on the side of the Moon that always faces Earth; they are its largest surface features and can be seen from Earth with the unaided eye. The dark features of the “man in the moon” are maria.

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mare¹

the adult female of a horse or zebra

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mare²

1. any of a large number of huge dry plains on the surface of the moon, visible as dark markings and once thought to be seas: Mare Imbrium (Sea of Showers)

2. a similar area on the surface of Mars, such as Mare Sirenum

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mare [′mär·ā, mer]

(astronomy)

One of the large, dark, flat areas on the lunar surface.

One of the less well-defined areas on Mars.

(vertebrate zoology)

A mature female horse or other equine.