2006-07-30 23:12:39 · 5 answers · asked by jack4sheep 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
It's an optical illusion that it looks bigger when it's closer to the horizon.
It's a really good question - lots of people have thought about it, and there are many theories about it. There's even a separate Wikipedia page about it, which talks about them all - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_illusion
2006-07-31 01:03:31 · answer #1 · answered by Luis 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The moon's orbit is slightly elliptical (oval), so it does in fact get closer to the surface of the Earth at some times than others. However, this is really only noticeable to the naked eye during a total solar eclipse - When the moon is close to the Earth a total eclipse will block out the whole of the sun's disk for several minutes, but when the moon is further away, it only barely covers the sun and an eclipse only lasts seconds.
As the first respondent says, the moon seems bigger when it's closer to the horizon but this is an optical illusion rather than a real magnifying effect.
2006-07-31 01:05:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It looks bigger when it is closer to the horizon becaus eof the magnifying effect of the athmosphere. You alre looking through more miles of athmosphere at the horizon, than when you look straight up. this thicker view through the horizon magnifies the moon making it appear larger.
2006-07-30 23:17:46 · answer #3 · answered by kenhallonthenet 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In some cases due to its distance form Earth and
due to the medium Rarer and Dancer.
2006-07-31 01:49:13 · answer #4 · answered by --> ( Charles ) <-- 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sunlight is more bright that time
2006-07-31 03:41:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋