Moon Illusion to Supersize Saturday Lunar Eclipse

[Evo]

Yay, I'm in central US.

A partial lunar eclipse set to occur early Saturday should look particularly stunning to observers in parts of North America thanks to an optical illusion that will make the moon look bigger than normal.


The moon will pass through part of Earth's shadow, temporarily becoming dark, starting at 6:17 a.m. EDT (1017 GMT) Saturday morning. That cosmic line-up coincides with the full moon of June and a so-called "moon illusion" that, weather permitting, should offer quite a show, according to a NASA announcement.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20100625/sc_space/moonillusiontosupersizesaturdaylunareclipse

 

[stevenb]

Yay, I'm in central US.



http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20100625/sc_space/moonillusiontosupersizesaturdaylunareclipse

Thanks for telling me that I missed it.

 

[BobG]

Really, why would you post this Saturday afternoon?

Now we're all just depressed.

So did you see it?

 

[Evo]

Really, why would you post this Saturday afternoon?

Now we're all just depressed.

So did you see it?

oops, Saturday morning, not Saturday night. Who has a lunar eclipse in the morning?

 

[sardar]

I find this upcoming lunar eclipse and the accompanying moon illusion to be a fascinating phenomenon. The moon illusion, where the moon appears larger when it is near the horizon, is an optical illusion that has puzzled scientists for centuries. It is caused by a combination of factors, including the moon's position in the sky, our brain's perception of size, and the surrounding objects that serve as reference points.

This particular lunar eclipse, occurring during the full moon of June, will provide a unique opportunity for observers in the central US to witness this illusion in action. The moon will pass through Earth's shadow, temporarily darkening its surface, while also appearing larger due to its position in the sky.

It is important to note that while the moon may appear larger, it is not physically changing in size. This illusion is a result of our brain's interpretation of visual cues and does not reflect any actual changes in the moon's size.

I encourage people to take advantage of this rare event and observe the moon illusion during the lunar eclipse. It is a great opportunity to appreciate and better understand how our brains process visual information. Enjoy the show!