Expert: Paul Wagner - 5/20/2011

Question
QUESTION: Why is the moon perceived as yellow (gold) in color?

ANSWER: Hi Margaret

The moon is really a very pale gray in color....but the atmosphere of the Earth sometimes makes it appear everything from pale gold to an almost deep rose or red.  It's the same thing with the sun....which looks much yellower from Earth than it does in space.

The lower it gets on the horizon, the more this effect is apparent.  that's because when it is very low on the horizon the light is passing through a lot more of the atmosphere.  

Paul wagner

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: What color is planetEarth as perceived from outer space, and why?

Answer
HI Margaret

Nice to hear from you again!

If you have seen the photos of the Earth taken by the Apollo astronauts, you can see that most of the Earth is blue ( from the water ) and white from clouds.  From farther away, if you could not see the detail of water and clouds, the Earth would be a pale bluish white.

Paul Wagner