The Moon Illusion Theory - I strongly disagree! (1 Viewer)

[Bossman]

This weekend, sitting around a campfire with friends as the "blue moon" shined excessively bright, high in the sky above us...
I mentioned that the moon appears so much bigger when it is at the horizon due to magnification of the atmosphere...
I was quickly corrected by a friend that said, "nope, that's an illusion. It appears as the same size no matter where it is in the sky."
So I whip out my phone and quickly google what I know to be true because I've seen the moon incredibly massive, and in much more detail, at the horizon on several occasions.
Google is spewing nonsense about "The Moon Illusion" where your brain THINKS it looks bigger but it's actually the same size as when it's high in the sky.
"you can cover it with your thumb no mater where it is."
I say absolutely not. I've seen it where it'd take my whole hand to cover it. There are photos upon photos showing the moon dwarfing buildings, trees, etc. ...
and other photos of what looks like a ping pong ball when it is high in the sky.
Why are people accepting this Moon Illusion theory?

Low moon near horizon

Moon high in the sky

 

[kupcho1]

I agree, There are times it seems so close you could throw a Ritz cracker over it.

 

[Jaysus]

I think that that the moon needs a new name.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

The moon's orbit is elliptical, so it is physically closer to us at some points and further away from us at other points. That's going to affect how large the moon appears in our field of vision. That's not an illusion.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

I definitely agree with you. Note though that photos aren't helpful because the moon will look larger or smaller relative to foreground objects based on the focal length of the lens being used.

 

[Max Power]

Never heard this before.

If you bend over and look back between your legs the moon will look smaller.

 

[Bossman]

I definitely agree with you. Note though that photos aren't helpful because the moon will look larger or smaller relative to foreground objects based on the focal length of the lens being used.

I agree. I need to do my own research, photos with my own camera, etc.
... but how can they tell me this is the same as this

 

[ChiefD]

Your friends are wrong.

 

[Ilov80s]

I definitely agree with you. Note though that photos aren't helpful because the moon will look larger or smaller relative to foreground objects based on the focal length of the lens being used.

I agree. I need to do my own research, photos with my own camera, etc.
... but how can they tell me this is the same as this

I agree with your general premise though I haven’t given it much thought. Still though using those photos doesn’t prove anything.

 

[-OZ-]

I agree, There are times it seems so close you could throw a Ritz cracker over it.

Plus, can only jump so high.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

- YouTube

Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen.

youtu.be

 

[AAABatteries]

These may help:

- YouTube

Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen.

www.youtube.com

Ebbinghaus illusion - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Also, the distance the moon is from earth does vary.

 

[AAABatteries]

I enjoy this one too.

Shrinking Mill

https://www.reddit.com/r/blackmagic****ery/comments/105u47q/the_shrinking_mill/?rdt=50976

 

[Runkle]

You are incorrect

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Over 70 years ago this was all explained by Dean Martin:

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie
That's amore
When the world seems to shine like you've had too much wine
That's amore
Bells will ring, ting-a-ling-a-ling, ting-a-ling-a-ling
And you'll sing "Vita bella"
Hearts will play tippy-tippy-tay, tippy-tippy-tay, like a gay tarantella.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

I definitely agree with you. Note though that photos aren't helpful because the moon will look larger or smaller relative to foreground objects based on the focal length of the lens being used.

I agree. I need to do my own research, photos with my own camera, etc.
... but how can they tell me this is the same as this

Again I'm not disagreeing with your general premise and I agree that it doe appear different sizes in real life too, just noting as a photographer that focal length in photos will make it look very different. Even if you have a foreground object for pespective.

Take this versus this.

Or 50mm versus 550mm, next to the same building.

 

[beer 30]

I have nothing to add to the conversation but saw this earlier this week and thought it was pretty cool

At this particular moment in Earth’s history – although the sun’s diameter is about 400 times larger than that of the moon – the sun is also about 400 times farther away. So the sun and moon appear nearly the same size as seen from Earth. And that’s why we on Earth can sometimes witness that most amazing of spectacles, a total eclipse of the sun.

 

[B Maverick]

Since the moon is a flat piece of cheese and Earth floats around it, obviously it looks bigger when you are hungrier.

 

[dickey moe]

Where's Galileo when we need him?

 

[B Maverick]

Where's Galileo when we need him?

He's with Figaro, magnifico!

 

[Dickies]

I definitely agree with you. Note though that photos aren't helpful because the moon will look larger or smaller relative to foreground objects based on the focal length of the lens being used.

I agree. I need to do my own research, photos with my own camera, etc.
... but how can they tell me this is the same as this

You can cover both with your thumb!!!!

 

[Chemical X]

I think that that the moon needs a new name.

i agree. every other planet has their “moon” with a cool name…..io, etc. this seems lazy by scientists, like calling an orange orange.

 

[Dezbelief]

Have any of yall watched a moonrise? The moon looks bigger as it's cresting over the horizon and appears smaller the higher it gets.

 

[Chemical X]

Have any of yall watched a moonrise? The moon looks bigger as it's cresting over the horizon and appears smaller the higher it gets.

i saw the movie Moonfall and now hate all things Moon.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Have any of yall watched a moonrise? The moon looks bigger as it's cresting over the horizon and appears smaller the higher it gets.

i saw the movie Moonfall and now hate all things Moon.

The moon is just an alient delivery device.

 

[beer 30]

Have any of yall watched a moonrise? The moon looks bigger as it's cresting over the horizon and appears smaller the higher it gets.

i saw the movie Moonfall and now hate all things Moon.

I thought this was more up your alley these days?

 

[Runkle]

Have any of yall watched a moonrise? The moon looks bigger as it's cresting over the horizon and appears smaller the higher it gets.

Yes it "looks" bigger, but it's not actually bigger. It's the same optical size. Like in a timelapse photo (which keeps the lens and focal lengths the same throughout), the size of the moon's disc is constant even if it looks bigger/closer to the human eye.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

My favorite moon theory:

In 1980, the Flat Earth Society accused NASA of faking the moon landings, arguing that they were staged by Hollywood with Walt Disney sponsorship, based on a script by Arthur C. Clarke and directed by Stanley Kubrick.

 

[rockaction]

Runkle,

Bossman isn't trying to say that the moon is bigger, he's trying to say that it looks bigger from earth. He thinks Google is telling him that it looks the same no matter what, no matter the night, and that you can "cover the moon with your thumb."

I now have no idea what Bossman, IK, and you are now saying because I'm just confused by it all. I think you and IK both misinterpreted Bossman.

IK is saying it's further away or nearer from earth at times, whereas Bossman is talking about the size it appears from earth. IK might be saying this indeed and just making an inferential step here—that of course if looks smaller the further away it is from earth.

So I think IK should get grace and you're misunderstanding Bossman.

And that's why contract law and statutory drafting are hard and rigorous courses. And that's why when judges, the legislature, and relevant agencies are malfeasant, dullards, or trying to bend words in ways they want regardless of intent or history, it can send ripple effects through expectations and lives like you wouldn't believe.

Oh wells.

 

[Jayrod]

If the moon was made of barbecue spare ribs, would you eat it?

 

[TheAristocrat]

If the moon was made of barbecue spare ribs, would you eat it?

If I was made out of barbecue spare ribs, I would eat me.

 

[Bossman]

I definitely agree with you. Note though that photos aren't helpful because the moon will look larger or smaller relative to foreground objects based on the focal length of the lens being used.

I agree. I need to do my own research, photos with my own camera, etc.
... but how can they tell me this is the same as this

Again I'm not disagreeing with your general premise and I agree that it doe appear different sizes in real life too, just noting as a photographer that focal length in photos will make it look very different. Even if you have a foreground object for pespective.

Take this versus this.

Or 50mm versus 550mm, next to the same building.

I understand the camera lens thing ... but I swear that I've seen, with my own eyes, a huge moon on the horizon on many occasion
... and I see a little ping pong ball high in the sky most nights.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

So what are we renaming the moon?

 

[BlackCrowes]

My favorite moon theory:

In 1980, the Flat Earth Society accused NASA of faking the moon landings, arguing that they were staged by Hollywood with Walt Disney sponsorship, based on a script by Arthur C. Clarke and directed by Stanley Kubrick.

That would’ve been so cool

 

[Riffraff]

I think that that the moon needs a new name.

You don't like Luna or even Theia ?

 

[Chemical X]

Have any of yall watched a moonrise? The moon looks bigger as it's cresting over the horizon and appears smaller the higher it gets.

i saw the movie Moonfall and now hate all things Moon.

I thought this was more up your alley these days?

cher, best actress…….doesnt come up in conversation here much.

 

[Galileo]

Where's Galileo when we need him?

i agree. every other planet has their “moon” with a cool name…..io, etc. this seems lazy by scientists, like calling an orange orange.

True, but this is because no other moons were known to exist until I discovered them! By that time, the "Moon" stuck.

You don't like Luna or even Theia ?

Theia is the name of the hypothetical object that struck the proto-Earth which is believed to be the cause of the Moon's creation..


I know there is a lot of shtick here, but just to set the record straight...

The OP is correct that the Moon does indeed have real apparent size differences. At apogee (furthest away from Earth) the Moon appears smaller just like all things do that are further away. Likewise, at perigee (closest to Earth) the Moon will appear larger. The difference can be about 4 arc-minutes of angular diameter. 1 arc minute is 1/60 of a degree. So the difference is pretty subtle, but it is noticeable. This is why we have both annular and total solar eclipses. Sometimes the disk of the Moon can not completely cover the sun even when centered on it.

However, the lunar orbit takes 27.3 days. So you are looking at a couple of weeks between apogee and perigee. This orbital effect cannot explain why the Moon looks larger near the horizon and smaller just a couple hours later higher in the sky. The illusion is real.

 

[Skipdog77]

The moon's not real.

 

[Bossman]

The moon's not real.

Uh oh, he's on to us.
Looks like this Skipdog77 Truman Show is about to be exposed.

 

[Chemical X]

My favorite moon theory:

In 1980, the Flat Earth Society accused NASA of faking the moon landings, arguing that they were staged by Hollywood with Walt Disney sponsorship, based on a script by Arthur C. Clarke and directed by Stanley Kubrick.

That would’ve been so cool

capricorn 2