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pixel01
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May be this is an old question. Some teachers explained to me that is because of illusion. Anyway I feel not so sure about that. Can anyone explain this phenomenon scientifically.
Flying Penguin said:In the middle of the sky your eyes have no reference points for size.
Bad Astronomy: The Moon appears larger on the horizon than overhead because you are comparing it to foreground objects.
The sun and moon appear bigger at sunset and rise due to an optical illusion called the "moon illusion." This is when our brain perceives objects near the horizon as larger than they actually are. This is due to the fact that when the sun/moon is near the horizon, we have other objects in our line of sight to compare it to, making it seem larger in comparison.
No, the sun and moon do not physically change in size at sunset or rise. It is only an optical illusion caused by how our brain perceives objects near the horizon.
The sun and moon appear red at sunset and rise due to the scattering of light in the Earth's atmosphere. When the sun/moon is near the horizon, its light has to travel through more of the Earth's atmosphere, causing the shorter blue wavelengths to scatter and leaving the longer red wavelengths to reach our eyes.
No, the distance of the sun/moon from Earth does not affect its perceived size at sunset or rise. As mentioned before, it is only an optical illusion caused by the moon illusion.
The sun and moon may appear bigger in some locations at sunset or rise due to differences in the terrain and objects in our line of sight. For example, if there are mountains or buildings near the horizon, the sun/moon may appear larger in comparison. Additionally, atmospheric conditions, such as haze or pollution, can also affect the perceived size of the sun/moon at sunset or rise.