This enhanced view of the Moon reveals its hidden colors, representing subtle variations in the composition of its surface. The reddish-brown hues indicate iron-rich basaltic plains, known as lunar maria, while bluish tones highlight areas with a higher concentration of titanium. These color differences are not visible to the naked eye but can be brought out through careful processing, offering a mineralogical map of Earth's only natural satellite.

The image was captured near first quarter, when the interplay of sunlight and shadow emphasizes the rugged terrain of lunar highlands and cratered regions. The Moon, about 3,474 kilometers across, has been geologically inactive for billions of years, yet its surface preserves the history of impacts and volcanic activity that shaped it. This mineral view gives a scientific twist to a familiar object, showing how much diversity lies within its gray appearance.