The moon and sun are larger at the horizon

[3bayjunkie]

This is untrue. It is actually an optical illusion. Here is one answer quoted from The Strait Dope: The Straight Dope: Why does the moon appear bigger near the horizon?

"Believe it or not, Frank, they've been arguing about this for two thousand years, and it's about time I got things straightened out. First of all, let me make it clear that the effect is an optical illusion. If you measure the moon with a ruler held at arm's length (a paper clip bent into the shape of a calipers will also work), you'll find it's always the same size no matter where it happens to be in the sky. If anything, the moon is slightly smaller at the horizon than it is at the zenith, mainly because it's 4,000 miles (the radius of the earth) farther away. (If you don't understand why this is so, draw yourself a picture.) Nonetheless, most people are convinced that, area-wise, the moon's at least twice as big when it's near the horizon as when it's overhead."

[teepee12]

Originally Posted by 3bayjunkie

This is untrue. It is actually an optical illusion. Here is one answer quoted from The Strait Dope: The Straight Dope: Why does the moon appear bigger near the horizon?

"Believe it or not, Frank, they've been arguing about this for two thousand years, and it's about time I got things straightened out. First of all, let me make it clear that the effect is an optical illusion. If you measure the moon with a ruler held at arm's length (a paper clip bent into the shape of a calipers will also work), you'll find it's always the same size no matter where it happens to be in the sky. If anything, the moon is slightly smaller at the horizon than it is at the zenith, mainly because it's 4,000 miles (the radius of the earth) farther away. (If you don't understand why this is so, draw yourself a picture.) Nonetheless, most people are convinced that, area-wise, the moon's at least twice as big when it's near the horizon as when it's overhead."

Wow! You mean the moon doesn't blow up like a balloon sometimes ... but shrink down to the size of an orange later? I am SO disappointed! You have truly burst my bubble!

[3bayjunkie]

Originally Posted by teepee12

Wow! You mean the moon doesn't blow up like a balloon sometimes ... but shrink down to the size of an orange later? I am SO disappointed! You have truly burst my bubble!

It's a common misconception. I was watching the sun rise here Iraq while I stood on the flight line and I thought; "Wow, the sun sure is big today" I was wondering why it always looked so big at sunrise and sunset. So when I looked it up I was surprised to find out that it actually is the same size if not smaller when its at the horizon than when its at high noon! Very convincing optical illusion

[teepee12]

Originally Posted by teepee12

Wow! You mean the moon doesn't blow up like a balloon sometimes ... but shrink down to the size of an orange later? I am SO disappointed! You have truly burst my bubble!

You know I was kidding, right?

[3bayjunkie]

Yeah i figured you were being sarcastic. So I retorted with a serious answer

[teepee12]

Originally Posted by 3bayjunkie

Yeah i figured you were being sarcastic. So I retorted with a serious answer

Okay. I deserved that.

I found a really nice article on shooting the moon that gives nice, simple step by step directions. Since we are going to visit friends next weekend who, unlike us, don't live in the middle of a woods ... AND whether or not the moon is HUGE or tiny and shrunken, I think I might, weather gods permitting, get a reasonable shot at it, not to be excessively punny.

I am determined, damn it, to DO this or die trying. Well, maybe not die. Just trying.

[teepee12]

By the way, do you actually understand exactly what the optical illusion is? I've had it explained to me dozens of times and I still don't really understand it, except that I believe everything everyone tells me because I am convinced that they all know more than me ... and I am usually right. It is like the theory of relativity: you can explain it 24/7 and I will still NOT believe in my heart that time is different when you go faster. Thinking about it makes me feel like my brain is going to explode and dribble out through my ears.

[3bayjunkie]

Originally Posted by teepee12

By the way, do you actually understand exactly what the optical illusion is? I've had it explained to me dozens of times and I still don't really understand it, except that I believe everything everyone tells me because I am convinced that they all know more than me ... and I am usually right. It is like the theory of relativity: you can explain it 24/7 and I will still NOT believe in my heart that time is different when you go faster. Thinking about it makes me feel like my brain is going to explode and dribble out through my ears.

if you would just click the link i provided it explains it very clearly. Its nothing complicated.