Mare Desiderii ("Sea of Dreams") 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 ("Dream") being the original name for the Luna 1 spacecraft.
This feature was later found to be composed of a smaller mare, Mare Ingenii (Sea of Ingenuity), and other dark craters. Today the IAU does not recognise the name Mare Desiderii.
Famous quotes containing the word mare:
“Do diddle di do,
Poor Jim Jay
Got stuck fast
In Yesterday.”
—Walter De La Mare (1873–1956)