How did the mountain ranges around the maria on the Moon form?

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How did the mountain ranges around the maria on the Moon form?

2006-09-21 13:10:43 · 2 answers · asked by ĢηøMΞ ¤ GứҰ ™ 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space

2 answers

The maria on the Moon were caused by asteroid impacts when the Moon's core was still molten. Because of Earth's pull, the molten core was slightly off-center... impacts on the far side couldn't penetrate the cooling crust, but on the near side they could. The hole was then filled up by pooling lava which turned dark as it cooled. This explains not only the rings of mountains around the maria, but why maria only occur on the near side of the moon and not on the far side!

2006-09-21 13:15:49 · answer #1 · answered by Doctor Why 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋

Mountain Ranges On The Moon

2016-11-07 00:51:13 · answer #2 · answered by alanna 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋