from the moon's perspective, why does the earth seem the same size as the moon?

Question

The earth and the moon are different in size. Why would the earth look the same size as the moon as we look at the moon from the earth?

Answer 1

It wouldn't.

Due to Earth being much much bigger, it would appear bigger in the Moon's sky. Simple.

Answer 2

I think you mean when we look at the earth from the moon?

Why do you think they look the same size? I don't think they do. For those of us who have never been to the moon, the only view we have is from cameras and unless you see a picture of the moon in the same perspective as a picture of earth (from the moon) you can't really tell how big they would look to the eye.

In other words, most pictures of either fill the whole page so you get no perspective as to comparative apparent size.

Answer 3

The two simple answers have been mooted already: 1. It is a coincidence 2. Somebody/something likes the aesthetics of a moon that looks the same size as the sun What about more complex suggestions? Here's my contribution: For some reason, the development of intelligent life requires annular eclipses, i.e. a moon that looks very slightly smaller than the sun. Thus, if the moon appeared to be a different size to the sun, we would not be here to see it. Conversely, because it appears the same, we are here to see it. Poppycock?

Answer 4

it doesn't... wear did you hear this? if you're basing this on pictures taken from the moon, you have to consider a number of things... they are pictures... you have no sense of perspective... also, earth has an atmosphere which can distort the moon (or any light passing through it) which can make the moon appear different sizes at different times of the night... but when the moon is straight up in the sky, compared to any view of the earth from any angle of the moon, the Earth will appear larger