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2 Environment Analysis of Lunar Soft Landing Exploration
2.4 Lunar Landform and Topography
2.4.1 Lunar Landform
The lunar surface can be generally classified in two kinds of landforms, that is, the
lunar mare and the upland. The lunar mare is the broad plain on lunar surface, which
occupies about 17% of the surface area of the Moon. Most of the lunar mares are in
circular shape and surrounded by ridges (the slender and stretched mountains). It is
similar to the basin on Earth. Upland is the region that is 2~3 km higher in altitude
than lunar mare. It occupies about 83% of the surface area of the Moon [9]. The
distribution of lunar mare and upland on the near side and far side of the Moon is
shown in Figs. 2.3 and 2.4.
Fig. 2.3 The distribution of lunar mare and upland on the near side of the Moon (https://cseligman.
com/text/moons/moonnear.htm)
2 Environment Analysis of Lunar Soft Landing Exploration
2.4 Lunar Landform and Topography
2.4.1 Lunar Landform
The lunar surface can be generally classified in two kinds of landforms, that is, the
lunar mare and the upland. The lunar mare is the broad plain on lunar surface, which
occupies about 17% of the surface area of the Moon. Most of the lunar mares are in
circular shape and surrounded by ridges (the slender and stretched mountains). It is
similar to the basin on Earth. Upland is the region that is 2~3 km higher in altitude
than lunar mare. It occupies about 83% of the surface area of the Moon [9]. The
distribution of lunar mare and upland on the near side and far side of the Moon is
shown in Figs. 2.3 and 2.4.
Fig. 2.3 The distribution of lunar mare and upland on the near side of the Moon (https://cseligman.
com/text/moons/moonnear.htm)