<p>Yes, pollution from (for example) wildfires can cause the moon to appear red. It is normally not noticed unless the moon is low in the sky.</p>

<p>Earthsky magazine is reporting that <a href="http://earthsky.org/earth/red-moon-sun-wildfire-smoke-images-aug-sept-2017" rel="nofollow noreferrer">red sunsets and red moons are being reported across the USA.</a> caused by wildfires. Even when the moon is quite high in the sky. I believe that fires from logging in the jungles of Borneo and the Philippines can have the same effect.</p>

<p>This has also been answered on <a href="https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/12223/why-were-both-the-sun-and-the-moon-red-today">https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/12223/why-were-both-the-sun-and-the-moon-red-today</a> </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-11T12:20:21.040Z
I might add that near-horizon moon looks more orange to me :-), and that one should be very cautious about trusting the color balance of your average digital camera when shooting in dark or near-dark conditions.
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-09T11:21:15.200Z
2017-09-09T11:33:43.397Z
2017-09-09T11:33:43.397Z
James K
<p>My friend posted a picture of the moon as if there was an eclipse because it was so red but there wasn't a scheduled eclipse at the time (it was last night, from the Philippines). </p>

<p>I'm a little concerned because how else is that possible? It was in Manila so I guess there was a lot of smoke in the air but I don't know if that's the reason behind the moon's redness.</p>

<the-moon>
Can the moon turn red even without an eclipse?
Emmi M
# Can the moon turn red even without an eclipse?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-09-09)

My friend posted a picture of the moon as if there was an eclipse because it was so red but there wasn't a scheduled eclipse at the time (it was last night, from the Philippines).

I'm a little concerned because how else is that possible? It was in Manila so I guess there was a lot of smoke in the air but I don't know if that's the reason behind the moon's redness.

**Tags:** the-moon


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-09-09. Score: 3

Yes, pollution from (for example) wildfires can cause the moon to appear red. It is normally not noticed unless the moon is low in the sky.

Earthsky magazine is reporting that [red sunsets and red moons are being reported across the USA.](http://earthsky.org/earth/red-moon-sun-wildfire-smoke-images-aug-sept-2017) caused by wildfires. Even when the moon is quite high in the sky. I believe that fires from logging in the jungles of Borneo and the Philippines can have the same effect.

This has also been answered on <https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/12223/why-were-both-the-sun-and-the-moon-red-today>

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: I might add that near-horizon moon looks more orange to me :-), and that one should be very cautious about trusting the color balance of your average digital camera when shooting in dark or near-dark conditions.  

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