Moon’s highlands

Definition

The Moon's highlands are elevated, heavily cratered regions primarily composed of anorthosite rock. They are older and lighter in color compared to the lunar maria, reflecting more sunlight.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The highlands cover about 83% of the Moon's surface.
2. They were formed over 4 billion years ago during the early history of the Solar System.
3. Highland rocks are predominantly made up of anorthosite, a type of igneous rock rich in calcium and aluminum silicates.
4. The highlands have a higher albedo than the lunar maria due to their reflective surfaces.
5. Many of the craters in the highlands were created by intense bombardment from meteoroids and comets.

Review Questions

Related terms

Anorthosite:

A type of igneous rock found predominantly in the lunar highlands, composed mainly of calcium-rich plagioclase feldspar.

Lunar Maria:

Dark, basaltic plains on the Moon's surface formed by ancient volcanic eruptions.

Crater Saturation: A condition where so many impact craters exist that new impacts destroy or modify older ones rather than creating new craters.