Perhaps it is better described as the semblance of a hint, since the impression is so subtle, but some of the darker regions are visibly blue. Harder to see still is an extremely dull, rusty yellow tinge to the rugged complexion of the lunar highlands. The effect is just evident in natural colour photographs, as camera sensors don't suffer some of the flawed characteristics inherent to human visual perception. When we see those blues and yellows, we are not fooling ourselves. The Moon is apparently awash with delicate colour.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxBNIUKFatHz79PDcuwzbz--9fUEdn594pTc8BmbwZhCgeoyxUUGyH-CPUcdqQT-r-R2xwntxqNogVLW1_Q_UQlZTbZ7kWwLGeVYuhmXT3D2X_cgBwxm1gGA-eIRKPMhR85Bg2kGcmkemCVfk9dFwawCDB6EsdeWyQGsbuQtsex08LNEzIOCwPpl-/s16000/moon-natural-colour.jpg)
Why is this so difficult to perceive visually? Our experience of sight is sensitive to contrast. We are less likely to discern low-contrast details than high-contrast details - a bias not common with digital cameras. The Moon's colours are extremely subtle, showing far lower contrast than the various shades of brightness across its face. Fortunately, we can exploit cameras to scrutinise these colours by enhancing their contrast even further. By taking a number of photos and combining them to reduce the influence of digital sensor noise, we can produce an image with showing maximal colour contrast.
The colour intensity in the image is multiplied and its coverage widened to draw out variations that are too similar to be readily noticeable, and the result is a quasi-scientific image illustrating the chemical variance of the lunar surface.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKimmTbwV6hrm8VlR2fk50BaN9P4U1S_TNRFgrXpEQjdbxLicIfRmX2iTK0y8tEIFkl1eTDjCdx8R_cHExLcIBacELUv00C-UTNcvhk5iE8NX37dFLWUejfeUWkmwX1r3xi28K10zbbDZIiD95OwcjZwrrb5LqJ7Aw4njx5FjAWPB1sx2j4TxHmhq/s16000/moon-enhanced-colour.jpg)
Although our eyes aren't best equipped to reveal it to us, we can safely say that Moon is indeed a colourful world - one whose visage is more nuanced than that of the Earth and most other planets. Observing these hues is a rewarding challenge, and capturing them is a fantastic astrophotography project. Next time you see the Moon, see if you can find its true colours.