Final answer:
The Moon's craters, maria, and lunar rays were primarily formed by the impact of solid bodies and volcanic activity. Impacts create craters and ejecta, while volcanic eruptions filled these basins with basaltic lava, forming the maria. NASA's simulations provide insights into these processes. Option b) is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The majority of the craters, maria, and lunar rays on the Moon were created by the impact of solid bodies onto the surface. When these impacts occur, they release a significant amount of energy, vaporizing the projectile and generating a shock wave that travels through the lunar rock. This process results in the formation of a crater and an ejecta blanket. The maria, which are flat plains of basaltic lava, were formed by volcanic eruptions that filled the impact basins produced by these collisions.
The lunar maria consist mostly of dark-colored basalt, which is similar in composition to the crust under Earth's oceans or the lavas erupted by terrestrial volcanoes. Over time, lava flows partly filled the huge depressions known as impact basins. For example, Mare Imbrium is one of the maria filled with basaltic lava, and it showcases evidence of material ejected from the impact crater Copernicus. By exploring NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter simulations, we can learn about the formation of the Moon's craters and maria, which resulted from periods of impact, volcanic activity, and heavy bombardment.