Why are there fewer maria on the far side of the Moon than on the near side?
A) Earth protected the near side of the Moon from the heavy bombardment that affected the far side. This bombardment obliterated the maria on that side.
B) When the Moon was molten, the heavier materials moved a bit more toward the near side, thus displacing the lighter materials that moved a bit more toward the far side. The far side thus developed a thicker crust, making it more difficult for magma to penetrate to the surface there and fill in the large craters to produce maria.
C) The early Moon showed signs of tectonic activity, allowing the maria to float around on the surface. Thus, the present distribution of maria is just happenstance.
D) The early Moon showed signs of tectonic activity, allowing the maria to float around on the surface. The present distribution is due to the dense maria (mascons) being attracted to Earth.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The far side of the Moon developed a thicker crust than the near side, which made it more difficult for magma to reach the surface and create maria. This crustal difference is thought to be due to the way heavier materials settled more on the near side when the Moon was molten.

Why Are There Fewer Maria on the Far Side of the Moon