When you look up at the sky at night, the first thing you always see is the Moon. The Moon, often shining beautifully bright, looks divinely white. But, is that really its true colour? In this article, we will find out the actual hues of the magnificent Moon and why it appears to change and looks different when we observe it from Earth. Delve in and read on to find out some fascinating hidden facts about this intriguing celestial body!
What colour is the moon, really?
According to various studies as mentioned in various online media sources and the data presented by astronomers, the Moon is mostly grey. Photos taken from space show its surface, which is made up of various minerals like oxygen, metals, and silicon. The lighter parts are known as plagioclase feldspar, while the darker areas, called lunar maria, consist of a mineral called pyroxene. These are volcanic rocks that give the Moon its unique grey look, and sometimes you can even get a glimpse of green from rare minerals like olivine.
How does the atmosphere change our view?
The way we see the Moon can change, depending on the atmosphere. During the day, it typically looks pale and white because it engages and contrasts with the brightly shining sun. The blue sky spreads sunlight, making the Moon look less vibrant.
At night, particularly when the Moon is low on the horizon, it can embrace a yellow or orangish hue. This happens because its light passes through more air density, distributing the blue light and letting the warmer yellow and red colours shine through, more dominantly.
The impact of its surroundings
The colour of the Moon can also be impacted by its surroundings. If the sky is dark, its brightness can create an illusion, making it look more colourful. This is similar to how the Sun can look red during sunrise and sunset because of the distribution of light.
Different colours of the Moon
Red Moon
During a full lunar eclipse, the Moon can turn a captivating red, also renowned as a ‘Blood Moon.’ This happens when the Earth blocks most of the sunlight from reaching the Moon. The light that does pass through the atmosphere of the Earth gets filtered, allowing only the red light to reach the surface of the Moon.
Yellow and Orange Moon
When the Moon is approaching the horizon, it typically looks yellow or orange. This is because of the dense atmosphere it has to shine through, which distributes the shorter blue lights and enables the longer yellow and red lights to dominate.
Blue Moon
A ‘blue moon’ is a rare occurrence. When smoke or dust in the atmosphere distributes light differently, it makes the Moon look beautifully blue in colour. This can happen after significant events such as volcanic eruptions.