why in the moon larger as it comes up over the mountains?

Answer 1

This seems to be the question of the week.

http://facstaff.uww.edu/mccreadd/

As you can see, it's none of the popular reasons, like comparing it to familiar objects when it's cose to the horizon, or atmospheric diffraction making it look bigger.

EDIT: Cosmo, thank you, but look at the caption for that picture. It says most people would agree, if shown that diagram, that it's what they would see when the moon's low.

Linda, it's not the atmosphere. When the moon's size in the sky is measured, it's the same on the horizon as it is high in the sky. That's why it's called an illusion.

Answer 2

Interesting article!

The important thing is that it's an optical/pscychological illusion. The Moon is exactly the same size physically at any altitude. There are small variations in the Moon's size due to its slightly eccentric orbit, but these are not detectable with the naked eye. The diameter of the Earth is insignificant compared to diameter of the Moon's orbit, so the rotation of the Earth is not a factor either.

Answer 3

Good answers. Actually the moon likes to listen to Kate Smith singing "When the moon comes over the mountain", which was her theme song.
Sigh.....

Answer 4

Thats easy. Its because the atmosphere acts like a magnifying glass. So, the more atmosphere is between the moon and the earth, the closer the moon seems to be.

Answer 5

The atmosphere that the moonlight passes through is thicker near the ground than it is higher up.
Thicker air acts a little like a magnifying glass, making it appear larger.
And if there is dust or smoke in that air, it will make the moon look reddish or orange at the same time.

Answer 6

This is an illusion caused by the fact that your mountains are puny and inadequate. You need bigger mountains.