The "Man in the Moon" has fascinated people around the world for centuries.

In reality, however, this remarkable feature is actually a huge geological basin called the Procellarum region that was gouged out by an asteroid strike--or so the conventional scientific wisdom goes.

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According to NASA, however, this crater or valley was formed by a large plume of magma that originated from the Moon's core. This terrain is volcanic and measures 1,800 miles across. That's comparable to the size of the United States.

Scientists used to believe this basin or crater was formed during a time when the Procellarum region was bombarded by multiple asteroid collisions. New data from NASA's GRAIL (Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory) mission reveals this region isn't particularly circular in shape.

It's more polygonal in shape, meaning it consists of sharp angles. This fact tells scientists it's wasn't formed by an asteroid impact.

Scientists and researchers from MIT reveal these features, including the jagged outline, was caused by increasing surface tension during a time when the Moon's crust was cooling down the hot magma from its interior.

According to GRAIL lead researcher Maria Zuber, this hot magma formed a "plumbing system" beneath the Moon's crust that filled the region's basins with molten lava.

Boffins are still studying what caused these magma plumes to erupt to the surface, but at least for now, the Man in the Moon mystery has finally been solved.

Tags"Man in the Moon" Mystery Solved: Formed by Molten Lava Not Asteroids, man in the moon, NASA, GRAIL, moon crater valley lava volcano