APOD: 2026 November 1 – Colors of the Moon
The post APOD: 2026 November 1 – Colors of the Moon appeared first on NASA Science .
The Astronomy Picture of the Day for November 1, 2026 showcased the colors of the Moon, a phenomenon influenced by both its distance from Earth and atmospheric conditions. On Earth, the Moon appears as a brown-tinged gray due to the lack of an atmosphere to filter its reflected sunlight. However, when viewed from our planet, the Moon's appearance changes, frequently taking on hues of red or yellow when it's near the horizon.
This effect is caused by the longer path the light must travel through Earth’s atmosphere, causing the blue light to scatter away. In certain conditions, this can result in a blue-colored Moon, which is rarer and typically associated with dust particles carrying greater size. Purple moons, although unclear in their origin, may be a result of a combination of atmospheric effects.
A notable example captured in the image was the total lunar eclipse of July 2018, where the Moon turned a faint red due to light refracted through the Earth's atmosphere. The photograph was taken by Marcella Giulia Pace, spanning over a decade of observations from various locations across Italy.
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- APOD: 2026 November 1 – Colors of the Moon science.nasa.gov
