Moonlit snow crystals

97% moon and the bright planet Jupiter next to it. In the cold snowy landscape, small crystals of different colors are seen in the snow taken with a macro lens. Even the two-bright stars Castor and Pollux are seen above the moon.

Snow crystals appear in different colors primarily due to light interference (thin films, prisms) or contamination, with thin-film interference causing iridescent blues, purples, and rainbow hues from light reflecting off layers, while contamination from algae (watermelon snow, green) or dirt/pollen creates vibrant reds, greens, and even blacks, altering the crystal's pure white appearance