The Moon’s Near and Far Sides

Near Side

The Near Side is the part of the moon that we see from Earth.
It is often referred to as the “Man in the Moon” due to perceived facial features in its surface formations.
This side of the moon features a number of visible maria, which are large, dark and basaltic plains caused by ancient volcanic eruptions.
The Near Side is denser, and its crust is thinner than that of the far side, averaging about 60 kilometres in thickness.
Scientists believe that the near side’s thinner crust allowed for more volcanic activity, which explains the greater number of maria.
Some of the notable features on the Near Side include the Sea of Tranquillity, where Apollo 11 landed, and the Sea of Rains.

The Far Side of the moon is the half not visible from Earth, often inaccurately referred to as the “dark” side.
This side was mapped in detail for the first time during the Apollo missions.
The Far Side’s crust is significantly thicker, averaging a depth of about 100 kilometres.
Due to the thicker crust, the Far Side has far fewer maria than the Near Side. Most of its surface is covered by lunar highlands.
The Far Side has more craters and appears to have withstood more asteroid impacts. This is likely because Earth’s gravitational pull attracts most of the asteroids, diverting them from the moon’s far side.
A large impact crater named the South Pole–Aitken basin, which is about 2,500 kilometres in diameter and 13 kilometres deep, is a noticeable feature on the Far Side.

Both the Near Side and the Far Side of the moon offer unique insights into the moon’s structure, history, and composition.
The denser and thinner Near Side has more maria, while the Far Side with its thicker crust is marked by many more craters and highlands.
It’s vital to compare and understand these differences to fully comprehend the moon’s geologic and volcanic history.