Fecunditatis

Mare Fecunditatis, Latin for Sea of Fertility, is a lunar mare on the Moon's near side. Like other maria, it is a broad, dark plain formed by ancient basaltic lava flows that filled large impact basins during the Moon's volcanic period. The feature's name comes from the traditional naming convention for lunar maria as seas, though there is no standing water.

Location and size: The mare lies in the eastern part of the Moon's near side and is bounded by higherlands that define its edges. It covers roughly a few hundred thousand square kilometers, making it one of the Moon's larger maria.

Geologic history and morphology: The lava flooding that formed Mare Fecunditatis occurred in the late heavy bombardment era, producing a relatively flat floor. The surface is pockmarked by craters of different ages, and the rim of the feature is irregular where it intersects surrounding highlands.

Observation and study: Mare Fecunditatis has been observed since antiquity and has been imaged in detail by lunar orbiters. It is included in standard selenographic maps and surveys of lunar geology. The region contains several named craters and rock units used to understand mare volcanism and regolith formation.