What are the dark, flat areas on the Moon's surface called, formed by ancient volcanic eruptions?

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The lunar maria were formed billions of years ago when massive asteroid impacts cracked the Moon's crust, allowing basaltic lava to flood the resulting basins. Early astronomers named them "seas" because they appeared dark and smooth compared to the bright, cratered highlands. The Moon is often the first object new telescope owners observe, and learning to identify the major maria is a wonderful introduction to astronomy (Deals).

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