Why Does Moonlight Look Silvery, Not Yellow-Hot?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why does moonlight look silvery, not yellow-hot?

The Big Idea

Moonlight looks silvery because the Moon only reflects sunlight, and it reflects just a small part of it. The Moon's gray surface is dim, so by the time the light reaches your eyes, it is very faint. Borrowed light looks cooler!

The Moon Shines Borrowed Light

Step one: moonlight is borrowed. The Moon doesn't make light. It reflects sunlight, like a giant gray mirror. The Moon's rocks and dust are dark, so it reflects only about 12 percent of the light.

Much Dimmer Light

Step two: the light is very dim. The full Moon is about 400,000 times dimmer than the Sun. That faint light is just enough to see by.

Your Eyes Switch Modes

Step three: your eyes see in a different way. In dim light, your eyes use cells that see shades of light and dark, and not much color. So the Moon looks pale and silvery.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look at moonlight! Sunlight shines on the Moon. The Moon's gray surface reflects a small part. That reflection is very dim. Your eyes see it as pale silver.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! The Moon reflects only about 12 percent of the sunlight that hits it. A low Moon near the horizon can look yellow or orange, for the same reason that sunsets do. The Moon is actually gray, a bit like worn pavement. Always have a grown-up with you when you look at the night sky.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Let's compare Moon colors. On a clear night, look at the full Moon when it is low near the horizon. Look again later when it is high. Is the color the same? Why might the color change? Always go with a grown-up at night.

Outro

Moonlight is borrowed sunlight, and it looks silvery to us. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!