Why was the moon red? .
The atmosphere will scatter light of lower wavelengths (i.e., blue and purple light), which means that those colors won't pass straight through the atmosphere very well. Red light passes through fine, however, so when the earth starts to cast a shadow on the moon, light must pass through the Eart…
The Short Answer
The atmosphere will scatter light of lower wavelengths (i.e., blue and purple light), which means that those colors won't pass straight through the atmosphere very well. Red light passes through fine, however, so when the earth starts to cast a shadow on the moon, light must pass through the Earth's atmosphere (instead of through space's vacuum) and the light that makes it through the best is red.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Light, atmosphere, pass
This explanation focuses on light, atmosphere, pass and spans 68 words across 2 sentences. The depth is typical for Space & Astronomy questions (category average: 68 words), striking a balance between accessibility and completeness.
What This Answer Covers
This is a focused, single-point answer that gets directly to the core of the question without detours.
How This Compares in Space & Astronomy
Ranked #217 of 500 Space & Astronomy questions by answer depth (top 44%). This falls in the detailed tier — above average depth. The explanation goes beyond surface-level but keeps things accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why the moon red? .?
The atmosphere will scatter light of lower wavelengths (i.e., blue and purple light), which means that those colors won't pass straight through the atmosphere very well. Red light passes through fine, however, so when the earth starts to cast a…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Space & Astronomy questions?
This is an above-average answer at 68 words, ranked #217 of 500 Space & Astronomy questions by depth. The key concepts covered are light, atmosphere, pass.
What approach does this answer take to explain the moon red? .?
The explanation uses contrasting perspectives across 68 words. It is categorized under Space & Astronomy and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.