Detailed Mosaic Reveals the Rugged Lunar Farside

• A high-resolution mosaic image centered on the lunar farside has been released, providing a detailed view of the terrain hidden from Earth.
• The image is part of a global compilation of over 15,000 snapshots taken by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Observing the Farside

• Due to synchronous rotation, the Moon is tidally locked to Earth, meaning the farside is invisible from our planet's surface.
• The featured mosaic, created using data collected between November 2009 and February 2011, provides a resolution of 100 meters per pixel.

Geological Differences

• Unlike the nearside, which features large, dark, smooth plains known as lunar maria, the farside is characterized by a significantly more battered and rugged landscape.
• Astronomers suggest that the crust on the lunar farside is substantially thicker than on the nearside, which inhibited the flow of molten interior material to the surface and prevented the formation of smooth mare basins.