NASA report details surprising lunar colors seen by Artemis II crew
During a close lunar flyby in April, the Artemis II crew reported seeing yellow, brown, green, blue, and tan patches across the moon, according to a newly released NASA report. The 130-page preliminary science report draws on hundreds of gigabytes of photos, video, and audio from the Orion capsule. The astronauts were especially drawn to the Aristarchus Plateau, where the varied colors point to distinct geological features that could help guide future lunar missions.
The Artemis II crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—observed the moon on April 6 during a roughly seven-hour loop from about 4,000 miles away. Their 130-page preliminary report uses 814 gigabytes of Orion imagery, video and audio. It describes yellow, brown, green, blue and tan patches, especially around Aristarchus Plateau, a raised near-side region rich in old volcanic terrain, dark lava and colored glasses.
Report authors link some hues to orange titanium-rich and green magnesium-rich glass beads, comparable to Apollo 15 and 17 samples. The crew’s notes also mention brown bands extending northward, suggesting varied geology that may help identify future study or landing targets.
The report could sharpen public interest in lunar exploration by turning the moon from a gray icon into a geologically varied destination. Scientists and mission planners may use the crew’s observations to prioritize sites such as Aristarchus Plateau for robotic or human study. Space agencies and commercial partners could also weigh these color-linked materials when considering resource potential and future surface operations, while broader audiences may gain a more vivid sense of why lunar geology matters.