Revealed for the First Time Color Images of the Moon from Clementine Satellite, page 6

For a better understanding of natural vs. true vs. false color images please review the information and images at this link�

CLEMENTINE VIEW OF THE APOLLO 16 LANDING SITE

www.lpi.usra.edu...

"The Moon's natural color is a faint red/brown. The blue tint seen in the Descartes mountains is the result of fresh ejecta from the crater Dollond E. Fresh crater ejecta is typically blue because it has not hand enough time to develop large amounts of iron-rich, red glass (agglutinates)"

Also note this description here�

www.lpi.usra.edu...

Clementine's imaging cameras are similar to LANDSAT multispectral data for Earth. Both measure reflected solar radiation, and both acquire data through several different bandpasses (filters). Each bandpass was carefully selected to cover parts of the spectrum for which surface materials exhibit known variations. In the case of Clementine, filters were assigned to observe areas in the visible and near-infrared spectrum that are sensitive to variations in bulk mineralogy (principally the abundance of iron-bearing silicates) and the cumulative amount of soil maturity.

Here�s the 11 spectral bands that Clemetine�s cameras covered�

Note that the images on the PDS MAP-A-PLANET present images that include FIVE of these spectral bands (not THREE as in the nearly �true� color RGB image at the above link) when you select the �Abledo (Natural Color)� option data set�

pdsmaps.wr.usgs.gov...

Clementine UltraViolet-Visible (UVVIS) 5-band Mosaic This multi-spectral lunar DIM is a radiometrically and geometrically controlled, photometrically modeled global image mosaic compiled using more than 400,000 images from multiple filter observations of the Ultraviolet/Visible (UVVIS) camera onboard the Clementine Spacecraft. The DIM mosaic is mapped in the Sinusoidal Equal-Area projection at a resolution of 100 meters per pixel. Five spectral bands are presented at 415, 750, 900, 950, 1000 nm wavelengths.

This is NOT �true� color as it includes other filtered spectral bands normally not present in a typical "color" photo but by the same token it is NOT to be confused with the �false� color data set option described as follows�

The Clementine Ratio or Clementine false color views of the Moon are created by ratioing 3 of 5 UVVIS wavelengths and combining these into a red-green-blue color image: Red=750 nm/415 nm, Green=750 nm/950 nm, Blue=414 nm/750 nm. The color ratio rendition serves to cancel out the dominant brightness variations of the scene (controlled by albedo variations and topographic shading) and enhances color differences related to soil mineralogy and maturity. The lunar highlands, mostly old (~4.5 b.y.) gabbroic anorthosite rocks, are depicted in shades of red (old) and blue (younger). The lunar maria (~3.9 to ~1 b.y.), mostly iron-rich basaltic materials of variable titanium contents, are portrayed in shades of yellow/orange (iron-rich, low titanium) and blue (iron-rich, higher titanium). Superimposed on and intermingled with these basic units are materials from basins and craters of various ages, ranging from the dark reds and blues of ancient basins to the bright blue crater rays of younger craters.

Also, somebody asked about what Copernicus crater looks like using The PDS site. To find it go to the �Advanced� page here�

pdsmaps.wr.usgs.gov...

Just enter a CENTER LONGITUDE of 9.7 degrees and a CENTER LONGITUDE of (minus) -20 degrees, click �SUBMIT� and VIOLA!

Anway, I hope that helps clear up some of the confusion. Thie point is this is not your father's 35mm camera.