FAR SIDE OF THE MOON
Topography on the far side of the moon is strikingly different from that on the near side. Craters are everywhere, but few have steep slopes. The face averted from the earth has no extensive mountain ranges and no large lava-flooded basins comparable to Mare Imbrium on the near side although some small basins exist on the far side. The far side thus lacks the near side's extensive lava flooding.
The moon's center of mass is displaced from its geometric center about 2 kilometers earthward. One consequence is that the lunar crust facing the earth is about half as thick as that of the far side. Perhaps this variation explains why the near side has more volcanic activity, which accounts for its large deposits of dark mantling material. It may also help explain why the basins on the far side are only partially filled.
