Red moon--why?

[hilarity n. suze]

Yes, the moon is red. Well, kinda pink. At any rate not your ordinary moon color.

And it's not very near the horizon. If straight up is 12:00 it's about 1:15.

I know there are fires in California, but I'm in Denver. Can anyone explain this odd color? Seems like some kind of evil portent to me.

[Victor Frankenstein]

It appears red because the light is being filtered somehow. The red wavelengths manage through while all the others get filtered.

It's possible it is from the wildfires or perhaps something else closer.

Seems to me there was a NOAA wildfire page. Let me see if I can find it.

[Victor Frankenstein]

Here it is.

http://www.weather.gov/aq/

Looks like there is some wildfires going on in Utah and western Colorado.

[AuntiePam]

Originally Posted by hilarity n. suze

I know there are fires in California, but I'm in Denver. Can anyone explain this odd color? Seems like some kind of evil portent to me.

On the news last night, they said that smoke from the California fires was reaching Denver.

We had gorgeous red sunsets (but not a red moon) in Seattle after St. Helens blew.

[Chacoguy]

It's even redder over here; so's the sun at midday. It's certainly an evil portend for the folks that are losing their homes.

[hilarity n. suze]

Yeah, I see now that it's probably smoke. There's a small fire in western Colo. but I'm guessing the Cali smoke is higher. The mountains have disappeared. Just this weekend I had my annual phone call with my sister about what's on fire where she lives (southern Cali).

I used to live in Tujunga Canyon! I remember when I was a kid, in the summer my mother would watch this line of eucalyptus trees, when the fires were going. Apparently eucalyptus trees turn into torches when the fires get near, and that would be our cue to evacuate.

I miss California, but I don't miss that.

[SunSandSuffering]

Something about blue moons and love, can't remember.

[SmartAleq]

Absent a bunch of smoke in the air, you'll quite often get a red moon because what you're seeing is actually a partial eclipse, but the earth is too far away from the moon to get it into the deep shadow (umbra and penumbra, yeah?) which would make it look like what you expect an eclipse to look like. You just get a bloody looking moon... Those are cool and spooky looking.

[Victor Frankenstein]

Originally Posted by AuntiePam

We had gorgeous red sunsets (but not a red moon) in Seattle after St. Helens blew.

I remember those. They were very nice.

[Fenris]

I see a red moon rising
I see trouble on the way
I see Shivarna Mitra suin'
I see bad times today

Don't sue our board tonight
Well it's bound to take our posts
I see a red moon on the way

[The Cid]

Adding to what Smartypants and others have said, here's an article in our local rag. The sky has been outright putrid lately and the air smells of fonk.