Moon on the Horizon and photos?

Question

There's probably a simple answer for this that I'm just not seeing... but...
They say the moon looks larger when it's on the horizon because of the way the human brain works.
So why then are photos taken of said moon in said position (horizon) showing up on photos as just as large on the photos themselves, just as our human minds would see it? Wouldn't it show up as it really is on a photo, as the camera is not affected by this human trait?

sample:
http://news.yahoo.com/photo/070701/480/8818610d5ccf4fdbb82ed832635b3c78

Answer 1

The Moon does show up the same size on a photo whether it's on the horizon or high in the sky, PROVIDED that the camera settings are the same. A picture of the Moon on the horizon is usually taken using settings that make the Moon, as the subject, a larger part of the frame. Try taking a picture of the Moon using an ordinary point and shoot camera one day. I think you'll be surprised at just how small the Moon appears.

Simple lesson: you cannot just compare pictures without knowing exactly what equipment and settings were used to take those pictures.

Answer 2

When taking a simple snapshot of the Moon on the horizon, most people do not in fact perceive the Moon as being larger than it should be. If you perceive it that way, you're unusual. You can prove for yourself that the Moon Illusion is truly an illusion by standing on your head next time you see the Moon on the horizon. With your head upside down, it will appear its normal size.

Come to think of it, turn the picture upside down and see what happens.

Is this your own picture? If it's from a magazine or something, it could be "artfully enhanced."

Answer 3

How do you already know you're finding on the real horizon? The Moon's floor isn't flat. There are undulations, crater rims, etc. The community horizon may well be lots closer than the real one, because of the fact the real horizon is obscured in the back of a closer function. And in case you already know that the conventional distance cues are lacking, how do then you justify asserting that the horizon continues to be lots closer because of the fact curiously that way? On Apollo sixteen the astronauts walked over to a extensive rock they theory substitute into somewhat interior of sight. It grew to become out to be a pair of million/2 a kilometre away and the size of a house! and that's the absence of distance cues fooling people who have been there themselves on the time, no longer in basic terms human beings finding at pictures.

Answer 4

I strongly recommend you the following: At the next full moon (4 weeks from now) go with your digital camera and take a picture with full zoom when the moon is just above the horizon.
Then some 4 or 5 hrs later you take another picture of the full moon when it is high in the sky - using the same camera settings (the same zoom setting!). Then you look at the pictures with your computer and measure how many pixels across from left to right the moon is on either picture.
This will give you the answer to your question.
It's all optical illusion of your brain. But the pixel count is not affected by the illusion.

Answer 5

Try it out. On one night take hourly photos starting with the moon on the horizon. Then measure the diameters. You should find them all to be equal.

Answer 6

Your brain interprets the photo in the same way.

Answer 7

The answer is simple, the Earth is mostly round, and the gases around the Earth are round.
So if you take a half round piece of glass and look through it at something it looks a lot bigger doesn't it.
In other the air around the Earth is round like the Earth, but when you straight up you are looking through several thousands of feet of air, but when you look at the horizon you are looking through fore or more amount of air.
To shorting it down, when you look at the rising Sun the air acts like a magnifier Glass.
That is why the rising and setting Sun looks so much bigger.

Answer 8

Good question.
I'm not sure I know what the answer is, I would have to think it over.