Color of the Moon (Once Again)

Hello everybody! Some time ago I started a discussion in a thread related to Apollo missions about what color the Moon surface is. Several photos appeared in that thread, which showed that the Moon is possibly not gray, but tan-colored. Many of the photos were later found to be not true full-color, but reconstructed from monochromatic shots at wavelengths not linked to human vision. So, basically, the notion that the Moon is not silver-gray, but has a brownish tint, was put aside. Now we have this new photo from the Chinese Jade Rabbit probe:


Looks like the Moon surface is actually light-brown with stones scattered around having obviously different, lighter color. Maybe this is the first time we can really have an independent close look at the moon surface in color. Interesting how other JR photos will correlate with what we believed about the Moon landscape till now.

Just for comparison, this is the previously posted Kaguya picture of the Moon. Color is obviously noticeable:


And this is Clementine color photo of the Archimedes crater. Even if we take into account different saturation level, the hues are very informative:


For comparison, this is a random Apollo photo:

IT'S A CONSPIRACY!!! I mean the moon doesn't shine white because it's reflecting the sun....

Cool pictures.
Looking forward to seeing more.

So all images suggest that it's a dirty sandy grey.

Was it supposed to be pink?

reply to post by mrkeen


The white stones are evidently a very different color than their surroundings. They do not blend in, or even approximate the color, they are white and the ground isn't. An ATS geologist should be around shortly to set you straight though - for everything on the moon is supposed to be a whiter shade of pale (then again, the stones are reflecting more light and look whiter than the little-less reflective dust/ground).

Give it a few months an people will have a larger collection of new photos to compare with Apollos. For me personally I don't care what the moon colour is, I want to know the colours and material of the megaliths up there


NOTE: color/colour, which ones correct? lol

skyblueworld
Give it a few months an people will have a larger collection of new photos to compare with Apollos. For me personally I don't care what the moon colour is, I want to know the colours and material of the megaliths up there

NOTE: color/colour, which ones correct? lol

Well if you want real English it's colour .. Only Americans can be lazy and lose the U. Just kidding!! I mean that jokingly

I've always assumed the moon was always a dirty grey colour I can't explain why the rocks look different but as long as it keeps shining bright that's all that matters

From around the net, a mosaic of random bits of moon images.



I think they tell a story about the imaging and photo reproduction equipment, than the actual color of the moon.

reply to post by mrkeen


I am excited! I hope there will be a ton to see without blurry pictures.

This shows the landing it made me dizzy really cool!


www.telegraph.co.uk...

skyblueworld
Give it a few months an people will have a larger collection of new photos to compare with Apollos. For me personally I don't care what the moon colour is, I want to know the colours and material of the megaliths up there

The subtle colors of the Moon are varied in the Apollo pictures, so I suppose we will see a variety of hues from this Chinese mission, too.

Looks pretty brown in this video taken what 40 some years ago now?


Oh yeah and the famous ORANGE

reply to post by abeverage


They forgot to switch the Mars filters...

Let me look up in the sky with my own two eyeballs. Hmm... Looks mostly whitish/gray from where I'm standing. Does it really matter what color it would be if I was 50 miles above it, or standing on its surface? Because that's never going to happen!

Blue Shift
Let me look up in the sky with my own two eyeballs. Hmm... Looks mostly whitish/gray from where I'm standing. Does it really matter what color it would be if I was 50 miles above it, or standing on its surface? Because that's never going to happen!

It matters it could cost you when go to play who wants to be a million air.

But seriously what color is it?

reply to post by abeverage


So where did they land, do you think they will tell the world when they discover we were never there lol...

Look forward to more pics. They can put rover on moon but can't breathe the air in bejing lol go figure....

The Bot

reply to post by dlbott



They did not land near any of the Apollo sites. The closest man-made object to where they landed (although still quite a distance away) is the Russian Luna17/Lunakhod 1 rover. The nearest Apollo site (Apollo 15) is a few hundred km away:


Image Source

edit on 12/16/2013 by Soylent Green Is People because: (no reason given)