Mare Insularum

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Mare Insularum, Latin for Sea of Islands, is a large dark plain of ancient lava on the Moon. It lies in the western part of the Moon, just south of Mare Imbrium, in the Insularum basin. The lava that fills it came after the basin formed, making a smooth surface from the Upper Imbrian period, while the surrounding basin material is from the earlier Lower Imbrian period. The mare is about 512 kilometers across and is bordered by Copernicus crater to the east and Kepler crater to the west, with Oceanus Procellarum to the southwest. Rays from Copernicus and Kepler extend into Mare Insularum. The northern edge of Mare Cognitum is visible nearby, and Fra Mauro—the Apollo 14 landing site—is also close. Sinus Aestuum forms a northeastern extension of the mare. The name Sea of Islands was given by lunar geologist Don E. Wilhelms. Coordinates are about 7.5°N, 30.9°W.