The Fecunditatis basin formed in the
Pre-Nectarian epoch, while the basin material surrounding the mare is of the subsequent
Nectarian epoch. The mare material is of the
Upper Imbrian epoch and is relatively thin compared to the neighboring
Mare Crisium or
Mare Tranquillitatis. This basin is overlapped with the Nectaris, Tranquillitatis, and Crisium basins. Fecunditatis basin meets Nectaris basin along Fecunditatis' western edge, with the area along this zone faulted by arcuated
grabens. On the eastern edge of Fecunditatis is the
crater Langrenus. Near the center lie the interesting craters
Messier and Messier A. It was here that the first automated sample return took place via the
Luna 16 probe, The gravity field was mapped at higher resolution with later orbiters such as
Lunar Prospector and
GRAIL, which unveiled an irregular pattern. ==Gallery==