Near side of the Moon

The lunar hemisphere that generally faces Earth because the Moon rotates synchronously with its orbit. Its visible features include the dark maria and bright, heavily cratered highlands.

Synchronous rotation: A rotation state in which an object's rotation period equals its orbital period, keeping the same hemisphere generally oriented toward its companion. The Moon's matching rotation and orbital periods keep this hemisphere generally Earth-facing.
Mare Imbrium: A vast basaltic plain in the Moon's northwestern near side, formed within a large impact basin. Its broad dark surface is one of the most prominent features visible from Earth.
Lunar maria: Broad, dark basaltic plains formed by ancient volcanic eruptions on the Moon. Their abundance on the near side gives it its characteristic dark patches.
Lunar phase: The changing fraction of the Moon's sunlit hemisphere visible from Earth during its orbit. The visible near-side surface changes illumination as the Moon's phase changes.
Lunar libration: The apparent rocking of the Moon that lets observers see slightly more than half its surface over time. Libration brings parts of the far side temporarily into view around the near-side boundary.
Oceanus Procellarum: The Moon's largest lunar mare, an extensive basaltic plain on the western near side. This immense volcanic region dominates much of the near-side western hemisphere.
Lunar highlands: Bright, elevated lunar terrain made largely of ancient, heavily cratered crust. Highlands surround many near-side maria and form much of its bright terrain.
Lunar mapping: The measurement and charting of the Moon's surface features and coordinates. Earth-based mapping first concentrated on the accessible near-side hemisphere.
Moon: Earth's only natural satellite, a rocky body orbiting at an average distance of about 384,400 kilometers. The near side is one hemisphere of Earth's natural satellite.
Mare Tranquillitatis: A basaltic plain on the Moon's near side and the Apollo 11 landing site. Its landing site made this near-side mare a landmark in human spaceflight.

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