what makes the moon red

The Moon appears red primarily during a total lunar eclipse due to a phenomenon called Rayleigh scattering. When the Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon, it blocks direct sunlight from reaching the Moon. However, sunlight passing through Earth's atmosphere is bent or refracted around the Earth, and the atmosphere filters out shorter wavelengths of light (blue and violet) while allowing the longer wavelengths (red, orange) to pass through. This red light reaches the Moon's surface, giving it a reddish-orange glow, often referred to as a "Blood Moon." The exact shade of red can vary depending on Earth's atmospheric conditions, such as the amount of dust, water droplets, or volcanic ash present at the time of the eclipse. This process is the same effect that causes colorful sunrises and sunsets on Earth.