I can’t believe we still haven’t discussed one of the most common optical illusions that we see almost each day. I’m talking about Moon Optical Illusion. The short intro would go something like this: The Moon illusion is an optical illusion in which the Moon appears larger near the horizon than it does while higher up in the sky. This illusion also occurs with the sun and star constellations. It has been known since ancient times, and recorded by numerous different cultures. There have been numerous tries to figure out why this phenomenon occurs (check Wikipedia), and the closest one in my belief would be “Relative Sizes” explanation – something we explained in the Ebbinghaus article and the Ponzo Collection. What do you think about it? What is your explanation? Have you noticed this illusion as well?
(5 votes)
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The different size of the object in a distance is an optical illusion due to the thickness of the atmosphere. The lower you get to earth, the thicker the amount of atmosphere. Frank J Leon
Astrophysics and PHD of Quality Illusionary subjects 1973
Everyone who is commenting about the denser atmosphere is correct. It isn’t an optical illusion as much as the angle on the horizon has a denser atmosphere than looking straight up at the moon. That’s also why the moon on the horizon is not only larger, but a bit discolored as well.
So far away, very mighty big!!
I like MOI very much!! Keep on trucking!!!!
Did you guys notice that it SEEMS to be the ones who always go for the “first comment” are usually dumber than a box of rocks???
They are both the same size but look like different sizes
no yall its one of those illusions that are the same size but apear bigger just because its farther away
Why do people value first post so much? And have you noticed how many people put in first enthusiastically when they aren’t? Oh well.
I think when the moon is in the sky, you compare it to everything around it, and the large sky like a sea and the moon an island, it looks small. But when you see it on the horizon, the horizon helps you to look at the edges and how far they go out.
typical.