Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Summer Moon illusion

"The lowest-hanging full moon in 18 years is going to play tricks on you this week.

"Step outside any evening at sunset and look around. You'll see a giant moon rising in the east. It looks like Earth's moon, round and cratered; the Man in the Moon is in his usual place. But something's wrong. This full moon is strangely inflated. It's huge!

"You've just experienced the Moon Illusion.

"Sky watchers have known this for thousands of years: moons hanging low in the sky look unnaturally big. Cameras don't see it, but our eyes do. It's a real illusion."
Source: NASA

Great timelapse picture: Moon over Seattle

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