Final answer:
Besides impact craters, the maria are the other dominant features on the Moon, consisting of dark, flat plains of basaltic lava that occupy about 17% of the lunar surface, mostly on the Earth-facing side.The correct answer is d)maria
Step-by-step explanation:
Besides impact craters, maria are the other dominant features on the moon. The maria are huge plains of dark, basaltic lava that were formed by volcanic eruptions billions of years ago. These flows eventually filled the large depressions known as impact basins, which were created by the collisions of large objects with the Moon early in its history. The maria cover about 17% of the Moon's surface and are mostly found on the side facing Earth. The basalt of these maria is similar in composition to Earth's oceanic crust and the lava from many terrestrial volcanoes.
The lunar maria are also notable for being significantly less cratered than the higher altitude lunar highlands. The maria, such as Mare Imbrium, were originally mistaken for seas by early observers, which is why they carry names like Mare Nubium (Sea of Clouds) and Mare Tranquillitatis (Sea of Tranquility). These areas stand out even to the unaided eye, forming what is colloquially known as "the man in the moon", due to the distinctive dark splotches they create against the lighter lunar surface.