Mare Desiderii
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (May 2019) |
| Coordinates | 33°42′S 163°30′E / 33.7°S 163.5°E |
|---|---|
| Eponym | Sea of Dreams |
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.
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/