See a Huge Moon Illusion Wednesday(Today June 18)

reply to post by VIKINGANT


Nope, it has nothing to do with the image of the moon actually being magnified. It's all in our heads. As has already been mentioned, take a picture of the moon at the horizon. Then take one when it's directly overhead. Compare the size of the two moons and they'll be the same. If the moisture in the atmosphere was actually magnifying the image, the moon on the horizon would be larger than the one overhead.

Also, try forming your hand into a circle, by touching your index finger to your thumb. Now hold that up and look through the circle at the moon on the horizon. It will appear much smaller, because you're blocking out the objects on the horizon that trick your brain into thinking the moon is larger than it really is.

The illusion theory is nonsense. There is a perfectly valid scientific explanation for why the moon seems bigger when it's near the horizon. When it's near the horizon, the Earth's atmosphere acts like a lens due to the curvature of the atmosphere as it follows the curvature of the earth. Same reason why the sun looks bigger when it rises and sets versus when it's high in the sky.

reply to post by Anonymous ATS


The lens theory is nonsense, and it's easily proven nonsense. Simply take a picture of the moon when it's on the horizon. Then take a picture of the moon when it's overhead. Using photoshop or whatever program you want, compare the size of the moon in the two pictures. They will be the same. If the atmosphere were really magnifying the image of the moon, it would appear larger in the first picture. But it doesn't, so the lens theory is total bunk.

I am still sceptical. If this is an optical illusion, it cannot be registered by a photograph. Then how do you explain this picture?



Also I am interested to know why the Sun appearing large on the horizon is not an optical illusion. (At least, I have never heard that it is) Why would it be different for the Moon?

reply to post by Lebowski achiever


Telephoto lens. Find some trees way in the distance and then use a lens that's long enough to make the moon take up the whole frame.