Why when u look at the sky u see a small white moon but on other nights the moon looks really big and its yellow...is there a reason?
2007-01-04 15:28:48 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The moon's orbit around the earth is elliptical (oval) not circular. So its distance from the earth varies during a lunar month. There is a nearpoint to earth (the perigee) and about a two weeks later a far point away from the earth (the apogee).
DATES AND DISTANCES FOR 2007
Apogee: Jan 10 16:27 404334 km
Perigee: Jan 22 12:25 366928 km
Apogee: Feb 7 12:40 404989 km
Perigee: Feb 19 9:35 361439 km
Apogee: Mar 7 3:38 405850 km
Perigee: Mar 19 18:40 357815 km
Apogee: Apr 3 8:39 406326 km
Perigee: Apr 17 5:56 357137 km
Apogee: Apr 30 10:58 406208 km
Perigee: May 15 15:11 359392 km
Apogee: May 27 22:02 405456 km
Perigee: Jun 12 17:08 363777 km
Apogee: Jun 24 14:26 404538 km
Perigee: Jul 9 21:39 368533 km
Apogee: Jul 22 8:44 404150 km
Perigee: Aug 3 23:53 368891 km
Apogee: Aug 19 3:29 404620 km
Perigee: Aug 31 0:14 364173 km
Apogee: Sep 15 21:07 405644 km
Perigee: Sep 28 1:54 359419 km
Apogee: Oct 13 9:54 406489 km
Perigee: Oct 26 11:52 356754 km
Apogee: Nov 9 12:33 406670 km
Perigee: Nov 24 0:13 357195 km
Apogee: Dec 6 16:55 406234 km
Perigee: Dec 22 10:12 360816 km
13 of each in a year with about a 10% difference in distance and about a 19% difference in size (9/10 x 9/10 = 81/100
Height in the sky has an effect too and the two effects can combine: a moon at perigee that is low in the sky will look considerably larger than one at apogee that is overhead,
2007-01-04 15:58:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Our minds trick us - it's apparently an optical illusion.
Even if you take a picture of the moon thinking that it fills the sky, the picture ends up different.
There is no definitive explanation as to why the human brain changes the viewer's perception & makes the moon appear to change size.
Excerpts from the links:
"The size of the moon is exaggerated when it is near the horizon. While it is no closer or farther away from the viewer on Earth, the low-hanging moon appears a good deal larger than it seems when elevated higher in the nighttime sky."
"The brain exaggerates the perceived size of the moon as if to drive home this conclusion: the moon is so far away, therefore it must really be huge if it takes up so much space in the sky."
This link gives some example of related optical illusions:
http://facstaff.uww.edu/mccreadd/intro9.htm
I know that it's not a great answer (if at all), but I was wondering the same thing the other day.
2007-01-07 12:53:51 · answer #2 · answered by somedaze37 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually the moon is nearly the same size all the time, about 1/2 degree of arc. It looks larger near the horizon not because of any atmospheric distortion, but because of an optical illusion based on proximity to reference shapes. You can test this with a donut. Look at the moon thru it at midnight tonight (it's a bit past full right now), and note how extended your arm is to make the hole the same size as the moon. Then do the same thing just before sunrise when it's close to the horizon. You'll find thte extension of your arm to be the same. Then eat the donut.
8^D
2007-01-04 15:39:17 · answer #3 · answered by Gary H 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It has to do with the atmosphere and how close the moon is to the horizon.
When you look across the horizon, you are looking through more layers of atmosphere, which distort the image of the moon, making it appear larger and more colorful.
When you look straight up at the moon, you are looking through considerably less atmosphere so your image of the moon is smaller.
If the Earth had no atmosphere, the size of how we saw the moon would be consistent.
2007-01-04 15:35:13 · answer #4 · answered by thezaylady 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Since the path of the moon around the sun is cycloidal there are two points when it crosses the ecliptic. So there is a time when the moon is closer to the earth and a time where its further away.The appearance in different size is due to the paralax and perspective effect.
2007-01-04 15:50:50 · answer #5 · answered by goring 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The horizon forces you see the eyes to perceives the moon as larger. High in the sky, there is nothing to use as a frame of reference. They eye naturally sees it as smaller.
2007-01-04 15:35:45 · answer #6 · answered by eric l 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the angle through the atmosphere that you are looking. The size of the moon remains the same size (with caveats) but the shallower the angle the greater the distortion - hence the illusion of different sizes.
2007-01-04 15:32:45 · answer #7 · answered by Scarp 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The moon pretty well subtends the same minutes of arc at all times
Your perception of contrast is what makes it seem to change.
2007-01-05 01:38:10 · answer #8 · answered by Billy Butthead 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is the system of astronomy. Un moonlight night ,the moon shows big,other half cresent ,ist quardent,second quardent,.....
2007-01-04 15:37:40 · answer #9 · answered by Rim 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check this site out. link below.
2007-01-04 15:35:50 · answer #10 · answered by Johnny 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋