Mare Desiderii

Mare Desiderii /dɛsɪˈdɪəriaɪ/ (Latin dēsīderiī, the "Sea of Dreams") was an area of the Moon named after Luna 3 returned the first pictures of the far side. This name is derived from the Russian Море Мечты, Mechta ("Dream") being the original name for the Luna 1 spacecraft.

Mare Desiderii
Coordinates33.7°S 163.5°E / -33.7; 163.5
EponymSea of Dreams

This feature was later found to be composed of a smaller mare, Mare Ingenii (Sea of Ingenuity or Cleverness), and other dark craters. Today the IAU does not recognise the name Mare Desiderii.

References
  • Stooke, Philip J. (2007). The International Atlas of Lunar Exploration. Cambridge University Press. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-521-81930-5.
  • US Geological Survey. Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/
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