List of maria on the Moon


This is a list of maria on the Moon. It includes other basaltic plains, including the one oceanus as well as features known by the names lacus, palus and sinus. The modern system of lunar nomenclature was introduced in 1651 by Giovanni Battista Riccioli. Riccioli's map of the Moon was drawn by Francesco Maria Grimaldi, who has a crater named after him.

Maria and Oceanus

Latin NameEnglish NameLat.Long.Diameter
Mare AnguisSerpent Sea22.6° N67.7° E150
Mare AustraleSouthern Sea38.9° S93.0° E603
Mare CognitumSea of Knowledge10.0° S23.1° W376
Mare CrisiumSea of Crises17.0° N59.1° E418
Mare FecunditatisSea of Fecundity7. S51.3° E909
Mare FrigorisSea of Cold56.0° N1.4° E1596
Mare HumboldtianumSea of Alexander von Humboldt56.8° N81.5° E273
Mare HumorumSea of Moisture24.4° S38.6° W389
Mare ImbriumSea of Showers32.8° N15.6° W1123
Mare IngeniiSea of Cleverness33.7° S163.5° E318
Mare InsularumSea of Islands7.5° N30.9° W513
Mare MarginisSea of the Edge13.3° N86.1° E420
Mare MoscovienseSea of Moscow27.3° N147.9° E277
Mare NectarisSea of Nectar15.2° S35.5° E333
Mare NubiumSea of Clouds21.3° S16.6° W715
Mare OrientaleEastern Sea19.4° S92.8° W327
Mare SerenitatisSea of Serenity28.0° N17.5° E707
Mare SmythiiSmyth's Sea1.3° N87.5° E373
Mare SpumansFoaming Sea1.1° N65.1° E139
Mare TranquillitatisSea of Tranquility8.5° N31.4° E873
Mare UndarumSea of Waves6.8° N68.4° E243
Mare VaporumSea of Vapors13.3° N3.6° E245
Oceanus ProcellarumOcean of Storms18.4° N57.4° W2568

There was also a region on the Lunar farside that was briefly misidentified as a mare and named Mare Desiderii. It is no longer recognized. Other former maria include:
A related set of features are the Lunar lacus , which are smaller basaltic plains of similar origin:
Latin NameEnglish NameLat.Long.Diameter
Lacus AestatisLake of Summer15.0° S69.0° W90
Lacus AutumniLake of Autumn9.9° S83.9° W183
Lacus BonitatisLake of Goodness23.2° N43.7° E92
Lacus DolorisLake of Sorrow17.1° N9.0° E110
Lacus ExcellentiaeLake of Excellence35.4° S44.0° W184
Lacus FelicitatisLake of Happiness19.0° N5.0° E90
Lacus GaudiiLake of Joy16.2° N12.6° E113
Lacus HiemalisLake of Winter15.0° N14.0° E50
Lacus LenitatisLake of Softness14.0° N12.0° E80
Lacus LuxuriaeLake of Luxury19.0° N176.0° E50
Lacus MortisLake of Death45.0° N27.2° E151
Lacus OblivionisLake of Forgetfulness21.0° S168.0° W50
Lacus OdiiLake of Hatred19.0° N7.0° E70
Lacus PerseverantiaeLake of Perseverance8.0° N62.0° E70
Lacus SolitudinisLake of Solitude27.8° S104.3° E139
Lacus SomniorumLake of Dreams38.0° N29.2° E384
Lacus SpeiLake of Hope43.0° N65.0° E80
Lacus TemporisLake of Time45.9° N58.4° E117
Lacus TimorisLake of Fear38.8° S27.3° W117
Lacus VerisLake of Spring16.5° S86.1° W396

Sinus and Paludes

A related set of features are the sinus and paludes :
Latin NameEnglish NameLat.Long.Diameter
Palus EpidemiarumMarsh of Epidemics32.0° S28.2° W286
Palus PutredinisMarsh of Decay26.5° N0.4° E161
Palus SomniMarsh of Sleep14.1° N45.0° E143
Sinus AestuumSeething Bay10.9° N8.8° W290
Sinus AmorisBay of Love18.1° N39.1° E130
Sinus AsperitatisBay of Roughness3.8° S27.4° E206
Sinus ConcordiaeBay of Harmony10.8° N43.2° E142
Sinus FideiBay of Trust18.0° N2.0° E70
Sinus HonorisBay of Honor11.7° N18.1° E109
Sinus IridumBay of Rainbows44.1° N31.5° W236
Sinus LunicusLunik Bay31.8° N1.4° W126
Sinus MediiBay of the center2.4° N1.7° E335
Sinus RorisBay of Dew54.0° N56.6° W202
Sinus SuccessusBay of Success0.9° N59.0° E132

Some sources also list a Palus Nebularum at 38.0° N, 1.0° E. However the designation for this feature has not been officially recognized by the IAU.