The moon illusion: why does the moon appear larger near the horizon?

Welcome back stargazers! 🌌 Have you noticed the Moon looks larger near the horizon than high up in the sky? This is called the Moon Illusion. In this video, we explore this fascinating phenomenon, delving into its history, causes, and the science behind it.
Discover how our brain's perception tricks us, with concepts like Angular Size Contrast and the Relative Size effect. Learn why the atmosphere isn't the main culprit and how our brains process images differently depending on where the Moon is in the sky.
We'll also look at how the Moon Illusion has been studied through various experiments and its influence on art and literature throughout history.
Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed this video, please give it a thumbs up 👍, share it with your friends, and subscribe to our channel for more fascinating content. Until next time, keep looking up at the stars! ✨

[@Wisdom_and_Knowledge365]

1st comment, yay🎉🎉. And I was just wondering this last night

[@whatis.ium29]

Thank you for your comment :)

[@josephdillon9698]

At 15 seconds that moon looks like the moon on the horizon near Wisconsin dells about 43, 44 degrees north. It’s smaller over hear in Hatteras about 35 degrees north it’s bigger on the horizon but not that big. In Illinois about two degrees south of Wisconsin it never looked that big. And I swear I could see detail on the surface in Wisconsin I could only see through binoculars. Something about that place has an effect on its size. I have lived in other places to but in cities or around tall forests it’s hard to see it on the horizon sometimes.

[@whatis.ium29]

But still, the Moon's apparent size will be the same in all the regions you mentioned. What you described is related to the path of the Moon in the sky. Near the poles, the path is closer to the horizon than it is near the equator, and due to the Moon illusion, it may look larger most of the time for someone living near the poles compared to someone living near the equator.

[@alexsimon915]

Doesn’t explain why the clarity and detail is much better on the horizon viewing it trough binoculars for example.

[@whatis.ium29]

It actually did explain it, There is no difference in the apparent size of the Moon when it is near the horizon compared to high in the sky, It is just an optical illusion, The Moon can actually appear more distorted near the horizon due to the thicker layer of atmosphere you see it through, creating a reddish and flalttened look. The perceived improuvement in clarity is likely another part of the illusion, To see for yourself, try looking at the Moon through binocular when it is high in the sky and compare it to when it is near the horizon. You'll notice there's no real difference in clarity or detail.

[@alexsimon915]

@@whatis.ium29 that what I just said, there is a difference how it looks. Mind you, when one is looking trough binoculars there is no other objects visible, thus only giving you a view of the moon itself. So the theory of moon illusion because of other objects in our view while the moon is near the horizon is no longer true since you just see the moon trough the optics. Somehow the craters and details seem to be closer and clearer while the moon is on the horizon. Perhaps it’s a mind trick even then…