Sea / bay

Mare Serenitatis

The Sea of Serenity is a rounded dark plain in the northern near side. Its shape is easy to recognise among the connected lunar maria.

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Mare Serenitatis and surrounding lunar terrain in the LROC Wide Angle Camera mosaic
Mare Serenitatis · North up, east right. Open image ↗
NASA / GSFC / Arizona State University · LROC WAC mosaic via USGS. Regional map crop; lighting is fixed and does not follow the selected date.
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How to observe Mare Serenitatis

Compare its border with neighbouring Tranquillitatis and locate Posidonius on the northeastern rim.

Finding the region

Look at 27.29° N, 18.36° E on the lunar disc. The chart marker identifies the catalogue centre. Start with a wide field and use the nearby formations below as landmarks.

Equipment & conditions

These dark plains are a good starting point with binoculars. Trace their shapes at low power, then examine the boundary with the brighter highlands. Higher sunlight helps reveal brightness differences; low sunlight brings out ridges.

Lighting

For surface relief, try a time when the Sun is low over this region. To compare surface brightness and any bright rays, return under higher illumination. The atlas calculates the solar elevation at the formation’s centre for any selected date.

View Mare Serenitatis in the atlas

IAU / USGS Gazetteer

Official feature record

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Approved name
Mare Serenitatis
Feature classification
Mare, maria
Catalogue dimension / extent
674.28 km
Centre latitude
27.29° N
Centre longitude
18.36° E
Name origin (Gazetteer)
"Sea of Serenity."

Coordinates are selenographic, with east-positive longitude. Dimensions are the Gazetteer’s catalogue values; for extended formations they do not represent a circular crater diameter. Data snapshot: 2026-09-16. Observing guidance above is separate from the official record.

Nearby formations

The four closest catalogue entries, measured from their centres.

LROC photograph of PosidoniusImpact crater

Posidonius

A large crater on the northeastern margin of Mare Serenitatis. Its fractured floor is easier to distinguish under low sunlight.

LROC photograph of Montes CaucasusMountain range

Montes Caucasus

A mountain group between Mare Imbrium and Mare Serenitatis. It forms a useful bridge between two major lunar plains.

LROC photograph of EudoxusImpact crater

Eudoxus

A northern highland crater immediately south of Aristoteles. Its terraced walls enclose an uneven floor.

LROC photograph of CassiniImpact crater

Cassini

A crater in the northeastern part of Mare Imbrium, close to the Alpine region. Smaller craters inside help distinguish it from nearby formations.