Tag: USGS

USGS releases first-ever comprehensive geologic map of the Moon

For the first time, the entire lunar surface has been completely mapped and uniformly classified by scientists from the USGS, in collaboration with NASA and the Lunar Planetary Institute. The lunar map, called the "Unified Geologic Map of the Moon," will serve as the definitive blueprint of the moon's surface geology for future human missions and will be invaluable for the international scientific community, educators and the public-at-large. The digital map is available online now and shows the moon's geology in incredible detail (1:5,000,000 scale). To create the new digital map, scientists used information from six Apollo-era regional maps along with updated information from recent satellite missions to the moon.