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Find out what's really behind the moon's strange orange glow
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We may joke about the moon being made of cheese, but have you ever questioned why the moon sometimes looks more like mozzarella, and other times like it’s actually made from cheddar? An orange-tinted glow from the moon is a rare sight, but a special one to see — and even more special to understand. Your questions about what causes the orange color, when to spot it, and what it means are answered here. And the next time the moon hits your eye (like a big pizza pie)...you’ll know why!
Things You Should Know
- The moon looks orange when it's close to the horizon. The thicker atmosphere only allows red, orange, and yellow wavelengths to reach your eyes.
- An orange moon might also be caused by wildfire smoke or pollution in the air.
- You're most likely to see an orange moon close to the first day of fall or summer.
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References
- ↑ https://www.uu.edu/dept/physics/scienceguys/2000Oct.cfm
- ↑ https://inews.co.uk/news/science/moon-why-red-orange-blood-moon-eclipse-colour-226548
- ↑ https://youtu.be/RXkYjL_7jME?t=84
- ↑ https://earthsky.org/earth/red-suns-and-moons-from-wildfire-smoke/
- ↑ https://www.almanac.com/what-harvest-moon
- ↑ https://www.universetoday.com/61121/hunters-moon/
- ↑ https://www.almanac.com/content/full-moon-september
- ↑ https://www.almanac.com/content/full-moon-october
- ↑ https://www.universetoday.com/61121/hunters-moon/
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