how and when does the moon turn red?

Answer 1

1) Moon rise and Moon set: dust in the lower layers of air and the fact that blue rays get dispersed easier (i.e., same reason as red sun at sunrise and sunset)

2) Lunar eclipse: Moon lit by sunlight refracted by Earth's atmosphere: the Moon is lit by all of Earth's sunrises and sunsets.

3) Extremely small particles in the air. Smoke particles (as in forest fires) are already too big and will leave blue light (an old meaning of "blue moon").

Answer 2

on occasions the moon does appear to turn slightly red during a lunar eclipse! On occasions it even is known to turn what is called a "blood red" color.

The reason for this color is exactly the same reason that we have red sun rises and sun sets on the earth. It is caused by the dust and other pollutions that are in the air of the earth.

As the sunlight travels through the earth's atmosphere, it picks up a red color from the pollutions and dirt and then the sunlight travels on through the earth's atmosphere and it stops on the surface of the moon during an eclipse! Thus, the red color we have in our sunrises and sunsets in now being projected upon the moons surface! Therefore, the moon will have a red to red brown color.

The reason it only happens during eclipses is that is the only time that the allignment of the sun, earth, and moon will allow the sunlight to go through the earths atmosphere and to be directly projected upon the moon.

On other occasions (ie. moon phases), the reflected light from the earth strikes the moon, but that does not give the moon a red color. It must be light that passes through the earths atmosphere and the light must then pass directly to the moon. It can not be reflected light.

I have observed this change in color on many occasions. It becomes more red in color after eruptions of very large volcanoes on the earth which throw large amounts of smoke and dust into the earths air. There are even some changes in color after large burnings of forests due to large amounts of smoke in the earths air. These events can also make it difficult to observe very faint objects in space such as stars and galaxies.

By the way, the upcoming partial lunar eclipse will present a rare opportunity to see comet Hale Bopp at the same time since the moon and the comet will appear to be near each other and the eclipse will darken the sky enough to see the comet!

Clear skies and happy observing.

Answer 3

The Moon can't turn red unless predominantly red light is shining on it. But it can look red if there is enough dust in the air blocking the shorter wavelengths of light. A local dust storm or a major volcanic eruption could do it. But it would only look red near the horizon, where we had more air to look through.

[edit] Oh yeah, eclipses. When the Moon is entirely in Earth's shadow, the closest available light will be the red light refracted through the ring of sunrise/sunset circling the Earth. So it can "be" red then.

Answer 4

The moon can turn red on two occasions

1) When there is a lot of smoke in the atmosphere (created by forest fires or volcanoes)

2) During a total lunar eclipse (the next one of which is due on March 3rd 2007)

Answer 5

It depends on what is in upper atmosphere for instance a volcanic eruption anywhere in world is gonna cause a red full moon becuse of the ash in ionsphere also space dust can cause same effect

Answer 6

I don't think it does!