Central lunar highlands, the Moon
Descartes Highlands
An ancient highland region chosen specifically because it did not resemble a mare. Apollo 16 landed here, the only Apollo mission to explore terrain unrelated to a lunar sea.
1
Mission
8.97°S, 15.50°E
Coordinates
Connected records
The mission
Every mission in the archive tied to Descartes Highlands.
Elsewhere on the Moon
Related locations
Explore the other places connected to this part of the archive.
Mare Tranquillitatis
Sea of Tranquility, the Moon
The site of humanity's first Moon landing. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin touched down here aboard the Lunar Module Eagle on July 20, 1969, spending over twenty-one hours on the surface.
Oceanus Procellarum
Ocean of Storms, the Moon
The Moon's largest mare, and the site of the first precision Apollo landing. Apollo 12 touched down within walking distance of the robotic Surveyor 3 probe, which had landed there in 1967.
Fra Mauro Highlands
Central lunar highlands, the Moon
A rugged highland region targeted by two Apollo missions. Apollo 13 was forced to abort before reaching it after an oxygen tank explosion crippled the spacecraft; Apollo 14 successfully landed here ten months later, completing the mission Apollo 13 never finished.
Hadley–Apennine
Edge of Mare Imbrium, the Moon
A dramatic site at the foot of the lunar Apennine Mountains, beside the Hadley Rille canyon. Apollo 15 landed here, the first mission to carry the Lunar Roving Vehicle.
Taurus–Littrow Valley
Edge of Mare Serenitatis, the Moon
A geologically diverse valley on the edge of Mare Serenitatis. Apollo 17, the final crewed lunar landing, spent the longest surface stay of the program exploring this site.