The near side of the Moon is the lunar hemisphere that is permanently turned towards the Earth, and as such the side which is always seen. The opposite side is known as the far side of the Moon

Names

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The near side of the moon is characterised by large dark areas, which were believed to be seas by astronomers in the 17th century, like Giovanni Battista Riccioli and Francesco Maria Grimaldi who made the first maps. Although it was found out later that the Moon has no water, the names have stuck.

Orientation

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The map of the Moon here is drawn as is normal for topographic maps, that is with north on top. Astronomers usually turn the map over to have south on top, as to correspond with the view in most telescopes which also show the image upside down.

Note that west and east on the Moon are were you would expect them, when standing on the Moon. But when we, on Earth, see the Moon in the sky, then the east — west direction is just reversed. When specifying coordinates on the Moon it should therefore always be mentioned whether geographic (or rather selenographic) coordinates are used or astronomical coordinates.

The actual orientation you see the Moon in the sky or on the horiznon depends on your geographic latitude on Earth. In the following description a few typical cases will be considered. It will be assumed that the Moon is close to the celestial equator.

• On the equator, when the Moon rises in the east, its N — S axis appears horizontal and Mare Foecunditatis is on top. When it sets in the west, about 12.5 hours later, the axis is still horizontal, and Oceanus Procellarum is the last area to dip below the horizon. In between these events, the Moon reached its highest point in the zenith and then its selenographic directions are lined up with those on Earth.
• On the northpole, if the Moon is visible, it stands low above the horizon with its north pole up.
• On the southpole the same story holds true, but there it appears with its south pole up.
• In mid nothern latitudes (North America, Europe, Asia) the Moon rises in the east with its northeastern limb up (Mare Crisium), it reaches it highest point in the south with its north on top, and sets in the west with its northwestern limb (Mare Imbrium) on top.
• In mid southern latitudes (South America, South Pacific, Australia, South Africa) the Moon rises in the east with its southeastern limb up (Mare Nectaris), it reaches it highest point in the north with its south on top, and sets in the west with its southwestern limb (Mare Humorum) on top.