What Color Is the Moon?
The moon's color depends on several factors, primarily the Earth's atmosphere and the time of day when viewed. From space, the moon is gray. However, as seen from Earth, it can appear white, yellow, or even orange.
The moon itself is primarily a dark gray, with areas of lighter gray and even some hints of black and orange. This is due to the composition of its surface, which includes rocks like mare basalts, breccia, anorthosite, and regolith (Earth How). Images from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera reveal these nuanced shades (National Air and Space Museum).
Atmospheric Effects
The apparent color change observed from Earth is mainly due to the scattering of light in the Earth's atmosphere. Blue and violet light scatter more readily, leading to a yellow or orange hue, especially when the moon is low on the horizon or during night viewing (Little Passports, Universe Today). During the day, the moon often appears white against the blue sky.
Summary of Moon Colors
- From Space: Gray
- From Earth (Night): Often yellow or orange
- From Earth (Day): Often white
- Underlying Composition: Dark gray with variations in shades of gray, black, and orange.
