15-02-2004, 06:34
Introduction:
Welcome to the soverign nation of the People's Republic of West Moon.
The moon, on which West Moon and various other lunar nations are located on was created when a Mars size object slammed into earth billions of years ago.
Looking at the moon through his telesope, Galileo found craters and what he called Maria which is latin for seas. He used this term because the areas in question looked like oceans. However, we note that these Maria exist only on the near side of the moon which is significant unsolved puzzle.
We know the moon is at least 4.5 billion years old.
The crust is made of low density minerals. Fact is, that most craters and basins on the near side of the moon are filled maria (which we now know are ancient lava flows that have solidified.)
The largest Crater on the moon, the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin contains rocks that have unusually high iron contents, though iron can found through out the moon. The SPA basin (which is under West Moon soverignty) has the highest iron content of any location on Luna.
SPA is a mammoth 2,600 Kilometers in area, making it the largest impact crater not only on the moon but in the entire solar system. These data were determined by the american clementine lunar exploration craft in 2003.
The capital of West Moon and indeed, West Moon proper is located in the region of Oceanus Procellarum which is a huge depression in the western part of the moon's near side. It is also the site of the Apollo 12 and Apollo 14 landings. There are numerous basaltic rocks here containing KREEP (potassium, rare earth elements, and phosphorus). In fact, the Americans have found that Oceanus Procellarum has the highest concentration of KREEP in all of luna. Hence, the high defense budget of the West Moon government which occupies 75% of the region. (Though they are known to have claimed up to half the entire moon this claim is not recognized by other nations). The government of West Moon is rumored to be debating whether to cede claims to certain areas.
The lunar highlands are dominated by anorthosiete: these rocks contain iron, feldspar, calcium, and aluminum.
The region of the Sea of Tranquility, part of which is also owned by West Moon has an unusually high concentration of titanium steel and is also the site of the Apollo 11 landing. Indeed, the S of T is the location of the rebellious republic of East Moon which broke away from West Moon over a year ago. East Moon shares the region with other lunar nations.
The crust on the near side is thinner for some reason than the crust on the far side. This remains a mystery to this day and is the reason why mining operations are strictly regulated in West Moon.
In fact, SPA has most of the mare on the far side but even here, the far side's mare layer is extremely thin. But SPA as a whole is largely unfilled by the mare.
There are a total of 45 basins on the moon that are at least 300 kilometers across. SPA is the oldest of these basins while Orientale is the youngest. (West Moon has no soverignty over Orientale so tourists wishing to visit would want to go the embassy of the owning nation while in West Moon to apply for a visa to go there.)
The lowest levels of iron on the whole moon are in the central part of the far side just outside SPA.
The region of Mare Serenitatis is at least 3.87 billion years old and is home to many nations and colonies.
The lunar axis is inclined by at least 1.5 degrees.
Because of this some areas of the north and south pole are permantly dark. In these regions, temperatures range from -223 degrees Celsius to -203 degrees celsius. Water has been found to accumulate here in ice form cause the sun is prevented from vaporizing it. In fact, West Moon geologists have found that the moon's poles contain 10 billion tons of water ice with in a foot or so of the surface. Most of this water is located at the north pole.
Just as some regions near the poles are in eternal darkness, some of the polar regions are in nearly eternal light. The temperature in these regions is in the mild range of -60 degrees to -40 degrees. While at the equator, temps go from -150 to 100 in one day.
It was determined, that because of this, early colonies had to be located near the poles. Where water was mined from the nearby dark areas for use in life support and as rocket fuel (liquid hydrogen and oxygen were the best rocket fuel known at the time).
West Moon has jurisdiction over 1/4 of the moon's north pole.
There are also nations and colonies located on the moon's far side.
This has been an official publication of the People's Republic of West Moon.
For comments or questions post here and government employees will get back to you as soon as they can. (Assuming they haven't been executed for doing something treasonous.)
Welcome to the soverign nation of the People's Republic of West Moon.
The moon, on which West Moon and various other lunar nations are located on was created when a Mars size object slammed into earth billions of years ago.
Looking at the moon through his telesope, Galileo found craters and what he called Maria which is latin for seas. He used this term because the areas in question looked like oceans. However, we note that these Maria exist only on the near side of the moon which is significant unsolved puzzle.
We know the moon is at least 4.5 billion years old.
The crust is made of low density minerals. Fact is, that most craters and basins on the near side of the moon are filled maria (which we now know are ancient lava flows that have solidified.)
The largest Crater on the moon, the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin contains rocks that have unusually high iron contents, though iron can found through out the moon. The SPA basin (which is under West Moon soverignty) has the highest iron content of any location on Luna.
SPA is a mammoth 2,600 Kilometers in area, making it the largest impact crater not only on the moon but in the entire solar system. These data were determined by the american clementine lunar exploration craft in 2003.
The capital of West Moon and indeed, West Moon proper is located in the region of Oceanus Procellarum which is a huge depression in the western part of the moon's near side. It is also the site of the Apollo 12 and Apollo 14 landings. There are numerous basaltic rocks here containing KREEP (potassium, rare earth elements, and phosphorus). In fact, the Americans have found that Oceanus Procellarum has the highest concentration of KREEP in all of luna. Hence, the high defense budget of the West Moon government which occupies 75% of the region. (Though they are known to have claimed up to half the entire moon this claim is not recognized by other nations). The government of West Moon is rumored to be debating whether to cede claims to certain areas.
The lunar highlands are dominated by anorthosiete: these rocks contain iron, feldspar, calcium, and aluminum.
The region of the Sea of Tranquility, part of which is also owned by West Moon has an unusually high concentration of titanium steel and is also the site of the Apollo 11 landing. Indeed, the S of T is the location of the rebellious republic of East Moon which broke away from West Moon over a year ago. East Moon shares the region with other lunar nations.
The crust on the near side is thinner for some reason than the crust on the far side. This remains a mystery to this day and is the reason why mining operations are strictly regulated in West Moon.
In fact, SPA has most of the mare on the far side but even here, the far side's mare layer is extremely thin. But SPA as a whole is largely unfilled by the mare.
There are a total of 45 basins on the moon that are at least 300 kilometers across. SPA is the oldest of these basins while Orientale is the youngest. (West Moon has no soverignty over Orientale so tourists wishing to visit would want to go the embassy of the owning nation while in West Moon to apply for a visa to go there.)
The lowest levels of iron on the whole moon are in the central part of the far side just outside SPA.
The region of Mare Serenitatis is at least 3.87 billion years old and is home to many nations and colonies.
The lunar axis is inclined by at least 1.5 degrees.
Because of this some areas of the north and south pole are permantly dark. In these regions, temperatures range from -223 degrees Celsius to -203 degrees celsius. Water has been found to accumulate here in ice form cause the sun is prevented from vaporizing it. In fact, West Moon geologists have found that the moon's poles contain 10 billion tons of water ice with in a foot or so of the surface. Most of this water is located at the north pole.
Just as some regions near the poles are in eternal darkness, some of the polar regions are in nearly eternal light. The temperature in these regions is in the mild range of -60 degrees to -40 degrees. While at the equator, temps go from -150 to 100 in one day.
It was determined, that because of this, early colonies had to be located near the poles. Where water was mined from the nearby dark areas for use in life support and as rocket fuel (liquid hydrogen and oxygen were the best rocket fuel known at the time).
West Moon has jurisdiction over 1/4 of the moon's north pole.
There are also nations and colonies located on the moon's far side.
This has been an official publication of the People's Republic of West Moon.
For comments or questions post here and government employees will get back to you as soon as they can. (Assuming they haven't been executed for doing something treasonous.)