No, a yellow moon is not rare.
While the moon's actual color is a "dirty grey" due to its composition of silicon, magnesium, iron, and other minerals, it appears in various colors when viewed from Earth. Here's a breakdown of why it appears yellow and how common this color is:
Why does the Moon Appear Yellow?
The yellow appearance of the moon is primarily due to atmospheric scattering. This is the same reason why sunsets appear red or yellow. When the moon is close to the horizon, its light travels through a greater amount of atmosphere. This atmospheric layer scatters away shorter wavelengths of light (blue and green), leaving behind the longer wavelengths, including yellow, orange, and red.
Moon Color Frequency
| Color | Frequency | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow/White | Most nights | Most commonly seen. Atmospheric scattering and the angle of observation play a role. |
| Reddish | Sometimes | Occurs when the moon is near the horizon, passing through even more atmosphere, thus scattering away more blue and green light. |
| Blue | Very Rarely | Requires special atmospheric conditions, often after large volcanic eruptions or wildfires. The ash and smoke particles scatter red light, allowing blue wavelengths to be more visible. |
| Grey | Always (Actual) | The moon is grey when viewed from space because there's no atmosphere to cause scattering. |
Is a Yellow Moon Rare?
Based on the information, a yellow or white moon is the most common color we see. A reddish moon happens sometimes, but a blue moon is very rare. Therefore, seeing a yellow moon is not unusual at all. It is the typical color we perceive the moon to be on most nights, not a rare phenomenon.
Key Takeaways:
- The moon's actual color is grey.
- Atmospheric conditions influence the color we see.
- Yellow or white is the most common moon color observed from Earth.
- Blue moons are very rare.
- A reddish moon is more common than blue.
