Is the moon looking bigger than normal?

[Christine]

That Huge Moon? It's Just an Illusion

By Robert Roy Britt,LiveScience

Posted: 2008-06-18 13:43:44

Filed Under: Science News

 

(June 17) -- As the full moon rises this Wednesday, many people will be fooled into thinking it's unusually large.

 

The moon illusion, as it's known, is a trick in our minds that makes the moon seem bigger when it's near the horizon. The effect is most pronounced at full moon. Many people swear it's real, suggesting that perhaps Earth's atmosphere magnifies the moon.

 

But it really is all in our minds. The moon is not bigger at the horizon than when overhead.

 

The illusion will be particularly noticeable at this "solstice moon," coming just two days before summer starts in the Northern Hemisphere. The reason, according to NASA, lies in lunar mechanics: The sun and full moon are like kids on a see-saw; when one is high, the other is low. This week's high solstice sun gives us a low, horizon-hugging moon and a strong, long-lasting version of the illusion.

 

If it's any consolation, space station astronauts report the same effect.

 

Here's how it works: Your mind believes things on the horizon are farther away than things overhead, because you are used to seeing clouds just a few miles above, but the clouds on the horizon can indeed be hundreds of miles away. So if we think something (such as the moon) is farther away, and it's not, then it seems larger.

 

If you remain doubtful, test the idea yourself. Go out at moonrise with a small object, perhaps a pencil eraser. Hold it at arm's length as the moon rises and compare the sizes of the moon and the eraser, then repeat the experiment an hour or two later when the moon is high in the sky. A rolled up tube of paper works well, too.

 

Moonrise times vary by location. On Wednesday, it will come up at these local times at these locations, according to NASA: New York City, 8:58 p.m.; Miami, 8:35 p.m.; Seattle, 9:51 p.m.

 

The moon rose about 50 minutes earlier Tuesday night, when the effect also was noticeable because the moon was nearly full. Oh, and that raises another point: There's no such thing as a full moon. Read more about that on space.com.

[Christine]

hoping the extra special moon will help break my water tonight!

[jajajaja]

Wooohoooo. Go moon, go!

[DreaW]

crossing our fingers

[Yari]

Fingers crossed!!

[Christine]

well it didn't work and it was cloudy so I didn't get to see it, did anyone see if the moon really looked bigger?

[ACDCDCAC]

oh dang i forgot to check!

 

sorry it didnt work for you christine.

[starchild]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christine well it didn't work and it was cloudy so I didn't get to see it, did anyone see if the moon really looked bigger?

Hell yeah it did! I didn't see this thread yesterday but I wish I did. It looked enormous last night, seriously.

[Yari]

The moon was beautiful last night and super big. It made me think of you Christine.

[DreaW]

I think us on the west side got a clear look at the beautiful moon last night:) it was huge I'm sorry it didn't work Christine. When do you get to see your Dr. again?