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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!wivax!apollo!eric
From: eric@apollo.UUCP (Eric Peters)
Newsgroups: net.misc
Subject: re: the moon
Message-ID: <153@apollo.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 25-Oct-83 11:27:33 EDT
Article-I.D.: apollo.153
Posted: Tue Oct 25 11:27:33 1983
Date-Received: Wed, 26-Oct-83 06:41:01 EDT
References: <142@lzmi.UUCP>
Organization: Apollo Computer, Chelmsford, Mass.
Lines: 14

As to why the moon looks bigger when it's near the horizon; it can't be simple
atmospheric distortion:

   1) When I take a picture of the moon near the horizon, it doesn't look bigger
      than normal in the resulting picture (I measured it); and
   2) When I see the risen moon just over a hill (i.e. at an angle above the
      horizon where it usually doesn't look bigger) then it DOES look bigger.

Could it be a subjective effect, similar to the sky appearing to be a flattened
dome?  (Ask someone to point at a place in the sky halfway between zenith and
horizon, and they will usually point up at about a thirty degree angle!)

                                                                  Eric