The first complete geologic map of Moon
Using data from several recent lunar orbiters, scientists have compiled and now released the first comprehensive geologic map of the Moon.
To create the new digital map, scientists used information from six Apollo-era regional maps along with updated information from recent satellite missions to the moon. The existing historical maps were redrawn to align them with the modern data sets, thus preserving previous observations and interpretations. Along with merging new and old data, USGS researchers also developed a unified description of the stratigraphy, or rock layers, of the moon. This resolved issues from previous maps where rock names, descriptions and ages were sometimes inconsistent.
“This map is a culmination of a decades-long project,” said Corey Fortezzo, USGS geologist and lead author. “It provides vital information for new scientific studies by connecting the exploration of specific sites on the moon with the rest of the lunar surface.”
The image to the right shows the Moon’s near side.
The complete map file is free to download, and I guarantee that scientists and engineers in China are downloading it even as I type, planning to use it to establish their ownership to the Moon’s most valuable real estate that we scouted for them.
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Using data from several recent lunar orbiters, scientists have compiled and now released the first comprehensive geologic map of the Moon.
To create the new digital map, scientists used information from six Apollo-era regional maps along with updated information from recent satellite missions to the moon. The existing historical maps were redrawn to align them with the modern data sets, thus preserving previous observations and interpretations. Along with merging new and old data, USGS researchers also developed a unified description of the stratigraphy, or rock layers, of the moon. This resolved issues from previous maps where rock names, descriptions and ages were sometimes inconsistent.
“This map is a culmination of a decades-long project,” said Corey Fortezzo, USGS geologist and lead author. “It provides vital information for new scientific studies by connecting the exploration of specific sites on the moon with the rest of the lunar surface.”
The image to the right shows the Moon’s near side.
The complete map file is free to download, and I guarantee that scientists and engineers in China are downloading it even as I type, planning to use it to establish their ownership to the Moon’s most valuable real estate that we scouted for them.
The support of my readers through the years has given me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Four years ago, just before the 2020 election I wrote that Joe Biden's mental health was suspect. Only in this year has the propaganda mainstream media decided to recognize that basic fact.
Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Even today NASA and Congress refuse to recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are five ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation:
5. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above. And if you buy the books through the ebookit links, I get a larger cut and I get it sooner.
I have a copy of the old National Geographic Moon map from the late 60’s.
The same one that Lou had behind his desk on the Mary Tyler Moore show.
it may be expensive, but I am gonna have to hunt down someone with a large paper printer and print this out.
I love it.
Beautiful, is there a legend that details the height of the different colors?
The pinks and reds are the low spots, miles lower than the far side of the moon. Even though this is the area of lava sea (basalt fields) that are as large as continents on earth. There are no volcanoes to point as the source. (In low gravity, the source volcano should be larger than Olympus mons on Mars)
The evidence would suggest that our moon is what collided with the earth billions of years ago, formed our continents out of Moonrock transferred during the collision. Placing the surface of the moon on top of the ancient lime stone atmosphere creating our oil (fossil fuel) during continental drift deep under ground. The nearest side of the Moons crust is missing exposing the core. The mass ratio to our continents is about right, analysis of the material shows that the moon and ours is identical.
Plasma created in such an impact would be as high in temperature as a supernova, but unable to blast into space, captured by the surrounding dust and rock causing heavy elements to be found in the upper crust for our convenience.
Max: This is not a topological map, it is a geologic map. The different colors indicate different geology, lava, impact ejecta, etc.
Thank you, much of the colors do not conform to details/information I’ve researched in years past.
Now it makes more sense. For instance, that the deep craters are the same color as the surrounding regolith. It’s material, not altitude. My bad.
I’ve gotten complacent looking at the topological map of Mars so often. It would probably help my comprehension if I didn’t do this while I was driving.