Why does the moon look bigger when it is close to the horizon?

Answer 1

It is a perfect optical illusion. When the moon is high in the sky your brain has nothing to compare it with. When the moon is low your brain can see a horizon and the moon appears larger. Also, don't forget that at certain times in its orbit the moon is closer to earth and really does appear larger than normal.

Answer 2

The horizon gives your brain distance clues and causes you to mentally zoom in. When you see the moon up high and all alone with no reference as to distance, your brain automatically zooms out all the way. If you measue the width of the moon by holding your finger at arms distance and comparing the moon to your finger, you'll see that it's not really any wider on the horizon.
Mountains can also look much bigger when you have buildings or other objects in the foreground.

Answer 3

One theory about the moon illusion says that when the moon is near the horizon we perceive it to be farther away from us than when it is high in the sky. But since the moon is actually the same size, our minds make it look bigger when it is near the horizon to compensate for the increased distance.

Answer 4

The moon doesnt emit its own light. The light that we see is a reflection of light from the sun. The suns light is composed of many frequencies of light including infra-red. The earths atmosphere is loaded with smoke, dust particles, moisture etc etc and these microscopic particles filter out a lot of the light leaving mostly infra-red. Thats why the moon many times is red when it rises and sets. Its sort of like a hot poker that is glowing red, it appears to be bigger. The earths atmosphere also acts like a magnifying lense due to the fact that we see the sun and moon at sunrise and sunset through the earths atmosphere through the curvature of the earth. The sun does the same thing and appears larger at sun set than at its highest elevation in our skies. So the moon actually is larger in diameter at sunrise and sunset if measured but what you are measuring is its reflected light not the moons actual diameter.

Answer 5

It is just an optical illusion. If you look at it upside down, the illusion goes away. The usual suggestion is to look at it between your legs, but I find that a little to embarrassing so I just tilt to the side. You don't have get all the way upside down, it starts to look small again about half way over.

Answer 6

remember the world is round so the atmosphere works like a concave lens
which magnifies the moon when low on the Harrison

Answer 7

refraction from the horizon. kind of like looking into a magnifying glass

Answer 8

FFloyd's answer is quite right but there is also an optical illusion at work. When seen against trees, hills, houses, etc our mind convinces use that it looks bigger.

Answer 9

im not sure if itstrue but easy answer is that the equator is wider than the north and south so if u live in the equator your a bit closer to the moon

sorry i dont REALLY know the answwer
but hope it helps

Answer 10

It just woke up and it takes a few minutes for her to get up there in the right spot before she starts to shine.