Big, Bright, and Beautiful

[guest]

When I was driving home last night I was eyeing the all so beautiful moon as it was coming over the horizon.

Does anyone out there have a technical explanation as to why the moon looks so big as it comes over the horizon?

I've always wondered...

Bryan

[guest]

-->The common answer:

Firstly, because we can see buildings and trees on the horizon that we know to be not that far away, our brain tries to imagine the Moon at that distance too, and this makes it appear bigger. Also, experience tells us that as things pass overhead, they are getting closer to us and appear larger. The Moon does not do this - as it passes overhead, it remains at the same distance. The brain compensates for this by making the Moon look smaller as it passes overhead. Also see:

http://exn.ca/Stories/1998/06/04/51.cfm

-->A more in-depth, scientific answer:

http://www.griffithobs.org/IPSMoonIllus.html

[guest]

Does the fact you are looking through a greater amount of atmosphere not have something to do with it as well.

[guest]

Yes,it acts like a huge magnifying glass!

[guest]

no, see the Griffith Observatory explanation linked above.

[guest]

I just read the scientific explanantion...interesting!

Thanks 350...

Bryan