The moon is invariably characterized as a colorless object whose features fall into one of the countless shades of black and white. Nevertheless, there are reports from Apollo mission astronauts as well as ground-based observers of color being noted, thus reinforcing the rich and geologically diverse nature of the lunar surface.

With the image below, taken at the terminator of the northeast quadrant of a nearly 19-day old moon, a dark shade of bluish-green beginning at the eastern limb of Mare Serenitatis and leading completely into Mare Tranquilitatis is readily apparent. Furthermore, immediately due south of Montes Appeninus and to the east of Copernicus, there exist numerous blotches of dark blue coloration. In contrast, north of the Alpine Valley and the craters Eudoxus and Aristoteles, a brownish tint characterizes the immediate vicinity.