Why does the moon look orange or red sometimes?
Quick Answer: The moon looks orange or red sometimes because Earth's atmosphere scatters shorter blue light waves, letting the longer red and orange waves pass through. This happens most when the moon is near the horizon or during a lunar eclipse, giving it that warm, glowing color.
When the moon is low in the sky, its light has to travel through more of Earth's atmosphere. Tiny particles and dust scatter the shorter blue and green wavelengths, so the light reaching your eyes is mostly red and orange.
During a lunar eclipse, Earth blocks direct sunlight from reaching the moon, but some sunlight still bends through our atmosphere. This filtered light bathes the moon in a reddish hue, often called a "blood moon."