Epiphany !
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Isn't it an optical illusion of some kind? I'm sure I read once that when it is high in the sky, there are no points of reference nearby and so it appears smaller than it is. Something like that anyway...??
When I am king, you will be first against the wall.
An amateur astronomer friends of mine said the size of the moon is the equivalent of a hard boiled pea held at arms length. Now I have no idea why it has to be hard boiled!:confused:
If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants. - Isaac Newton 1676
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Why is it that the moon sometimes look much bigger than other times? Is it because of the atmospheres curvature (acting like a magnifying glass)? -- You know me. I sure know you.. Everyone of you!
It's because of atmospheric refraction. When the moon is low on the horizon, its light passes through more atmosphere, which acts as a magnifying lens. As it rises, the apparent size decreases. Or so I read once upon a time.:-O
"Welcome to Arizona!
Drive Nice - We're Armed..."
- Proposed Sign at CA/AZ Border -
It's because of atmospheric refraction. When the moon is low on the horizon, its light passes through more atmosphere, which acts as a magnifying lens. As it rises, the apparent size decreases. Or so I read once upon a time.:-O
"Welcome to Arizona!
Drive Nice - We're Armed..."
- Proposed Sign at CA/AZ Border:cool: I was right! :) -- You know me. I sure know you.. Everyone of you!
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Isn't it an optical illusion of some kind? I'm sure I read once that when it is high in the sky, there are no points of reference nearby and so it appears smaller than it is. Something like that anyway...??
When I am king, you will be first against the wall.
Yeah its an optical illusion. Apparently you can verify that by viewing the moon through a cardboard tube or a hole on a piece of paper ( blocking out the surrounding), at different times. Or you could actually measure it with a ruler and see if it changes.... --------------------------------------------------
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I was walking outside and realized for the first time in my life that "Darn ! That moon must be **huge** to appear that big at this distance !" ..I felt it was a thing to be shared. F.O.R.
No, it's not really that big, it's painted on your eyes. Actually, the whole world is painted on your eyes, by those japanese artists that paint entire murals on a cherry stone. The, you#re trained in selective perception for 3..4 years. That's why your first memories start that late. :cool:
"Der Geist des Kriegers ist erwacht / Ich hab die Macht" StS
sighist | Agile Programming | doxygen -
I live in surrey (near the south of england) and the moon appears a certain size pretty much all the time, my parents live 600 miles north, in scotland near inverness. I went to vist them one christmas and took a look at the moon, it seriously looked like something out of starwars, it was over twice the size than I have ever seen it before. Kinda wierd really, I would expect this if i was sat on the north pole, but not in scotland. Oh well... James Simpson Web Developer imebgo@hotmail.com
Without checking beforehand, which object when held at arms length, is the smallest that will completely cover up the moon when it is full? 1) A quarter 2) A nickel 3) A dime 4) A pea 5) A BB The answer is 5! The moon appears larger when near the horizon because we subconsciously compare it against the objects near the ground.
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Yes. Isn't it strange that we take so many things for granted, especially those that we grew up with. Thanks for sharing. :) It's cloudy here, or I would have gone to take a look too, after your post.
Regards,Rohit Sinha
Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.
- Mother TeresaGlad to prompt curiosity in my fellow posters ! F.O.R.
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For some reason, i can't see the moon here right now... But i stared at the sun for a while as a substitute. Now my monitor is all spotty... :mad:
Shog9
Let your mercy spill / On all these burning hearts in hell If it be your will / To make us well...
[g] It's not the monitor, but the videocard ! [/g] F.O.R.
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I live in surrey (near the south of england) and the moon appears a certain size pretty much all the time, my parents live 600 miles north, in scotland near inverness. I went to vist them one christmas and took a look at the moon, it seriously looked like something out of starwars, it was over twice the size than I have ever seen it before. Kinda wierd really, I would expect this if i was sat on the north pole, but not in scotland. Oh well... James Simpson Web Developer imebgo@hotmail.com
James Simpson wrote: inverness [Italian comics background] Naah ! The village where Xabaras had his secret laboratory !!!!! [/Italian comics background] James Simpson wrote: I would expect this if i was sat on the north pole, but not in scotland [g] Some people might say there's not much difference on Saturday night :-) [/g] F.O.R.
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Why is it that the moon sometimes look much bigger than other times? Is it because of the atmospheres curvature (acting like a magnifying glass)? -- You know me. I sure know you.. Everyone of you!
...hmm... I don't think that the distance Earth Moon is constant anyway... Plus, I'm sure that the atmospheric conditions have something to do with it... F.O.R.
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No, it's not really that big, it's painted on your eyes. Actually, the whole world is painted on your eyes, by those japanese artists that paint entire murals on a cherry stone. The, you#re trained in selective perception for 3..4 years. That's why your first memories start that late. :cool:
"Der Geist des Kriegers ist erwacht / Ich hab die Macht" StS
sighist | Agile Programming | doxygen...hmmm... peterchen wrote: No, it's not really that big, it's painted on your eyes. [this.eyes.close()/]... ...hmm.. nah, I checked... peterchen wrote: the whole world is painted on your eyes [g] Ohh... that may very well be. Actually... you are just a figment of my imagination ! So, go away and be replaced by my girlfriend ! [/g] F.O.R.
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...hmm... I don't think that the distance Earth Moon is constant anyway... Plus, I'm sure that the atmospheric conditions have something to do with it... F.O.R.
Frank Olorin Rizzi wrote: I don't think that the distance Earth Moon is constant anyway... It can't be the distance. I really doubt that it's one unit sometimes and two units at other times. -- You know me. I sure know you.. Everyone of you!