Mare Desiderii


Mare Desiderii was an area of the Moon named after Luna 3 returned the first pictures of the far side. This name is derived from the Russian Море Мечты, Mechta being the original name for the Luna 1 spacecraft.
This feature was later found to be composed of a smaller mare, Mare Ingenii, and other dark craters. Today the IAU does not recognise the name Mare Desiderii.