The "Moon Illusion" Has Stumped Scientists for Millennia: Unraveling the Mystery

It's an illusion That has puzzled individuals from the realms of philosophy and science across millennia—but what is the reason behind this? Moon appear bigger when it rises or sets?

Queries about the visual illusion of the moon seeming bigger when it's close to the horizon can be traced back as far as the 4th century BCE.

That's right, even Aristotle He rubbed his chin as he contemplated the cause of this phenomenon. His conclusion was that the Earth’s atmosphere might have some sort of magnification effect that distorts how we perceive the moon.

At the point where the horizon meets the sky, the place where the moon illusion becomes evident, the philosopher surmised that light must travel through a thicker layer of the Earth’s thick atmosphere. This passage acts akin to a magnifying lens, amplifying what we perceive.

According to this theory, Aristotle grasped how the moon illusion deceives the human eye instead of attributing it to the moon or outer space—although not all of his ideas were equally perceptive.

It’s an optical illusion for humans since even though photographs taken of the moon show consistent dimensions every night, our perception makes it seem as if its size changes in the evening sky.

Therefore, we have all acknowledged that this phenomenon is due to an optical illusion, with modern explanations attributing it to our brain’s inability to accurately gauge the Moon’s actual size and distance.

Nonetheless, there isn't a definitive explanation for this phenomenon; one potential cause might be the influence of our environment on how we perceive things — such as trees, mountains, and structures that lead us to believe the moon appears bigger and nearer when it's near the horizon.

When the moon sits high in the sky without anything nearby for scale, it can seem more distant and diminutive.

Does that sound familiar? It should, as the Ponzo illusion works similarly. The pair of converging lines alters how we perceive two lines of identical length.

Even though we might believe the top line appears bigger and more distant, this is incorrect; in reality, both lines are identical in size.

If unsure, we can check with NASA regarding this lunar optical effect.

"Without a full understanding of why we perceive it this way, we can still concur that whether real or an illusion, a large Moon remains a breathtaking spectacle," according to the space agency. IFL Science.

So, until we figure out precisely what our minds are doing, it’s likely for the best to simply appreciate the Moon illusion and the moody, atmospheric, and occasionally eerie scenes it generates.

Consider this the next time you look up at the moon...

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Lunar Eclipse Tomorrow: NZ and Parts of Australia Set for a Spectacular Show

When the complete moon appears tomorrow (Thursday, March 14), it will present a remarkable view for observers in Aotearoa New Zealand. People residing on the eastern coastline of Australia should also find it worthwhile to take a glance.

Instead of appearing fully illuminated, the Moon will be midway through a lunar eclipse, which marks the first of two such events happening this year.

New Zealanders can look forward to seeing the Moon emerge entirely within Earth’s shadow, causing it to turn red rather than go dim. This phenomenon is popularly known as a "blood moon."

On the eastern seaboard of Australia, totality will occur while the Moon remains beneath the horizon; once it ascends, only partial shadow will be visible.

A crimson moon within Earth's shadow

During a full moon, the Sun and the Moon sit on opposing ends of the celestial sphere with Earth right at the center. This alignment allows Earth to project a substantial shadow that blocks sunlight from illuminating the Moon.

Nevertheless, during most full moons, we do not observe an eclipse due to the Moon's orbital tilt, which is approximately five degrees relative to Earth's orbit around the Sun. In many months, when the full moon occurs, it moves either above or below Earth's shadow. However, two times each year, the Moon's trajectory causes it to through the shadow instead.

When the Moon completely enters the umbra, it appears red solely because of Earth’s atmosphere.

The first eclipse from the Moon

The Blue Ghost Mission 1 Which touched down on the Moon on March 2, this mission will be the first to capture images of an eclipse from the lunar surface. While we observe the lunar eclipse here on Earth, the Blue Ghost 1 lander will simultaneously witness a total solar eclipse as our planet passes in front of the sun.

If you were on the Moon during totality and looked up at the Earth, you would see the atmosphere glowing like a red ring surrounding our planet.

Only the lower-wavelength red sunlight penetrates the atmosphere as the blue light gets dispersed. This phenomenon also explains why sunsets exhibit shades of red, orange, and pink.

Significantly, the atmosphere also bends or refracts the light, directing it into Earth’s shadow and causing the Moon to turn red.

Where and when to observe

Watching lunar eclipses is spectacular—totally harmless and doesn't require specialized gear. Given that the Moon will appear close to the horizon, ensure you have an unobstructed vista towards the east, possibly from a elevated location. This celestial show unfolds gradually, making it perfect for enjoying with companions.

As this eclipse occurs during moonrise, you can utilize the website for information. timeanddate.com To verify the time of moonrise specific to your area and also to calculate the eclipse magnitude, which indicates the extent to which the Moon will be covered by shadows.

An eclipse with a magnitude of 1 or greater indicates that the Moon is completely within the Earth's shadow, reaching total eclipse stage.

If it is below 1, it indicates the largest portion of the Moon’s diameter that gets covered during the eclipse. Picture a line running through the center of the Moon; the position where the shadow meets this line signifies the magnitude of the eclipse.

In New Zealand, the Moon will ascend during the total phase of the eclipse. As you move toward the northern regions, the duration of totality increases. Once the Moon exits the Earth’s shadow, twilight will conclude, leaving the night sky clear and dark for observing the remainder of the eclipse.

Along the eastern seaboard of Australia, the eclipse will appear against the vibrant twilight sky. This will pose significant challenges for observers in southern New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, as merely a fraction of the Moon will be obscured.

Trick of the eye

However, that’s not all. Observing the Moon when it hovers near the horizon introduces a fascinating phenomenon known as the Moon illusion.

Our minds deceive us into perceiving the Moon as significantly larger than it actually is. However, if you use your thumb to block out the Moon when it's near the horizon and compare it with how it looks later in the night when it has risen higher, you'll notice that the Moon's size remains unchanged.

The illusion probably happens because we naturally assume the The sky has a domed shape. And since the Moon appears nearer when it's directly above us and more distant when it's close to the horizon. Just like how a bird seems to vanish as it flies further away.

However, the Moon is significantly more distant than a bird; its position remains constant throughout the night.

When our brain perceives the Moon closer to the horizon, it leads us to believe it is more distant. The Ponzo illusion explains this phenomenon, showing how we're misled into perceiving the Moon as larger at these times. In the following image, both Moons are identical in size; however, the perspective created by the railway lines tricks our mind into seeing the lunar disc near the horizon as being significantly larger due to the apparent distance.

If you miss this eclipse, the next total lunar eclipse occurring in 2025 will be visible in the early morning of September 8.

It will be observable throughout all of Australia, whereas New Zealand will witness the partially obscured Moon as it sets during sunrise; nearly the reverse scenario compared to tomorrow’s eclipse.

Tanya Hill does not have any employment, consulting relationships, share ownership, or received funds from any entity that could gain from this article. She has declared no additional affiliations apart from her academic position.

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Science's Top Theory About the Moon Might Be Dead Wrong

It has often been said that the Moon came into existence when a Mars-sized body dubbed Theia smashed into Earth , propelling matter into space which ultimately formed our cherished cosmic companion.

This concept, referred to as the giant impact hypothesis, aids in explaining why Earth and the Moon have several shared characteristics, such as similar minerals.

And yet, a new study Has created a significant gap in this broadly accepted theory due to one prominent reason: we lack any concrete proof of such a large-scale event occurring.

Paolo Sossi, the planetary scientist at the helm of this pioneering study, informed ScienceAlert The secret behind his team's latest discovery hinges on examining rocks sourced from the Earth’s mantle as well as those from the Moon.

He pointed out that the isotope ratios in both samples are virtually the same, but added that "if there were any signs of an impacting object, we would anticipate observing slight variations."

Therefore, he stated: “Our contention is that if an impact occurred, both celestial bodies would have had to mix thoroughly… or alternatively, the Moon must have originated through a distinct formation process.”

Frankly, this does not rule out that the massive collision might not have happened. It simply indicates that we cannot confidently assert that it occurred.

To put it differently, the genuine beginnings of the Moon still puzzle scientists.

If there wasn't such a significant collision, then how did the Moon originate?

In the end, the giant impact hypothesis has a great deal of merit. Following all, conditions were quite tumultuous during that time. Solar System was just beginning about 4.5 billion years ago.

There were numerous rocks scattered about, making it quite possible that our infant Earth was struck by an object similar to Theia.

According to Sossi and his team, the problem lies in the similarity between Earth and the Moon. Many components found on both celestial bodies exhibit matching ratios of isotopes—variations of atoms containing the same number of protons but differing neutron counts—in their nuclei. ScienceAlert notes.

Sossi pointed out that initially, this correlation was observed exclusively among oxygen isotopes. However, since the early 2010s, it has also been identified in chromium and titanium—elements that are present only within the rocky sections of celestial bodies.

In addition, since the isotopes of these elements show significant variation across different planetary materials, if there had been any sign of an impacting object, we would anticipate observing slight discrepancies in their isotopic compositions. However, no such disparities have been found when comparing the Earth and the Moon.

He went on: "It has similarly been demonstrated for numerous additional elements (such as iron, calcium, molybdenum, among others) indicating that the possibility of this occurring randomly is extraordinarily slim."

Additionally, a new research suggests that Earth and the Moon might be approximately the same age – or more precisely, they were formed within a short period of each other roughly 4.5 billion years ago.

Various bits of evidence have prompted Sossi to determine that the duo originated from the same cloud of matter, thereby eliminating the necessity for any additional entity—be it Theia or anything else—to be part of the process.

Certainly, our planet and its natural satellite stand out in the Solar System as the only pair of sizable spherical entities featuring distinctively layered cores.

Actually, if the Moon – which isn’t significantly smaller than Mercury – were orbiting independently in space, it might well be classified as a planet itself. ScienceAlert points out.

The Moon is also acknowledged for its significant impact on the development of life on our planet Earth. It aids in stabilising the Earth's rotation and creates tidal movements that assist ocean circulation.

In simple terms, our Earth would be a vastly distinct world without our beloved companion.

Is it possible we'll definitively determine how the Moon came into being?

At present, we genuinely do not understand how Earth and the Moon formed from a cloud of stardust around 4.5 billion years ago. However, Sossi and his team believe there are methods to uncover this mystery.

He thinks that the subsequent move should be exploring what lies within the Moon, which is currently the focus of his team’s efforts.

"Sufficiently robust chemical and isotopic evidence has emerged to begin challenging the basic principles behind how the Moon was formed," according to Sossi.

We’re equally delighted to observe how the geophysical, geochemical, and dynamical constraints can intertwine to offer a fresh, comprehensive perspective on lunar formation.

He concluded: "We can discuss shared issues spanning different fields, which will eventually assist us in solving this puzzle."

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