NASA Report Reveals Unusual ‘Swamp-Like’ Colors on the Moon from Artemis II

The monochromatic image of the Moon commonly seen from Earth masks a complex palette of colors, according to a new NASA report detailing observations from the Artemis II mission. Released on October 8, 2026, the 130-page Preliminary Lunar Science Report catalogs the visual data collected by the four astronauts during their close flyby of the lunar surface on April 6.

Crewmembers Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen spent nearly seven hours orbiting approximately 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) above the Moon. Their observations, drawn from 814 gigabytes of photos, video, and audio, revealed a landscape featuring yellow, brown, green, blue, and tan formations across volcanic plains and crater rims. These distinct geological signatures may help guide future landing sites as global space agencies plan for a permanent lunar presence.

One area that captivated the crew was the Aristarchus Plateau, an elevated region on the northwestern near side of the Moon known for its dense concentration of ancient volcanic features. Koch, serving as mission specialist, described seeing vivid yellow shades that reminded her of a “yellow snow-capped mountain,” with sunlight-reflecting craters acting as the bright snow. She referred to the region as “a jaundiced cheek of the Moon.” Pilot Victor Glover also noted the presence of green and brown tones flowing from the north toward the pole.

Report authors suggest these colors may correspond to orange, titanium-rich glass beads and green, magnesium-rich glass beads, similar to samples brought back by Apollo 15 and Apollo 17. Glover remarked, “There are so many colors now… There’s also a green. I see brown. It kind of flows down from the north in brown streaks.”

The crew also observed the Orientale Basin, a massive, multi-ringed impact crater spanning roughly three times the width of Massachusetts and straddling the boundary between the Moon’s near and far sides. Commander Wiseman described the visual impact as creating “chaos across the entire area.” Koch noted “almost swamp-like colors” in the basin’s outermost ring and compared chains of craters extending from the impact site to “bubbles rising from a team of scuba divers below.”

The detailed descriptions highlight the value of human observation in space exploration. The Artemis II team underwent over two years of training, which included visiting terrestrial craters, classroom instruction, simulated flybys, and reviewing self-selected reference materials during transit. The report concludes that human cognition offers scientific insights that autonomous cameras cannot replicate, as humans continuously interpret surroundings with contextual understanding.

Glover summarized the experience for mission control by calling it “quite a wicked view.” The findings underscore how human presence enhances planetary exploration, bridging the gap between raw data capture and real-time geological interpretation.