Moon appears larger when closer to the horizon

Image

Image: Moon rise through Downtown San Diego buildings. Craig Carter, @SeeMyPhotos

Like the sun, the moon rises and sets in the sky at predictable times. When the moon is close to the horizon during moon rise or moon set, it appears to be much larger than when it is above us.

Is the moon larger at certain times of the day? How can we determine if the moon is a different size depending on its position in the sky?

Resources

National Geographic, Why the moon looks bigger near the horizon?

Discover Magazine, Why does the moon look so huge on the horizon?

Type
Phenomena
Subject
Earth and Space Science

More Activities & Resources:

Why do some spiders weave spiral orbs while others weave, tangled or tunneled webs?
Phenomena
Trackers on great white sharks in the Pacific reveal that sharks gather in a remote location
Phenomena
Some rainbows are white and are called white rainbows or fogbows
Phenomena

The Fleet Science Center invites you to connect to the power of science through FLEETtv!