Mare Humorum

The Sea of Moisture is a nearly circular mare in the southwestern quadrant of the Moon.

Visual Description

Mare Humorum appeared as a well-defined, nearly circular dark area with smooth lava plains. The mare is bordered by bright highlands and features the prominent craters Gassendi on its northern rim and Doppelmayer on the southwestern edge. Concentric wrinkle ridges are visible on the mare floor.

Notable Features

• Nearly circular mare basin approximately 425 km across
• Prominent crater Gassendi overlaps the northern rim
• Contains several small craters on the mare floor
• Concentric wrinkle ridges visible with good seeing
• Well-preserved basin structure

Notes

• Name means “Sea of Moisture”
• Best observed 9-11 days after new moon
• Look for the prominent Gassendi crater with its central ridge
• Excellent example of a mascon (mass concentration) basin
• Coordinates: 24.4°S, 38.6°W