The moon can look different colors because of the Earth's air. When the moon is low on the horizon, it has to travel through more air than when it's up high in the sky. The air scatters some light, blue and green are scattered more, so the moon might look red or orange. It’s like looking at a lamp through a foggy window, the color changes depending on how much air is between you and the light.
Examples
- A blue moon feels like the night has been painted with watercolors.
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See also
- What Is a Solar Eclipse and How Does It Happen?
- What If We Lost Earth's Moon?
- What Is the 'Dark Side' of the Moon Really Like?
- What Makes a ‘Supermoon’ Different from a Regular Moon?
- What Is the Difference Between a Solar and Lunar Eclipse?