Fact #51 - The Illusionist

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When the Moon is closer to the horizon, it's closer to objects like buildings and tress, which makes the Moon look bigger. However, it's actually not bigger in reality, it's an optical illusion that fools the eye.

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One theory about the Moon illusion says that when the Moon is near the horizon we perceive it to be farther away from us than when it's high in the sky. But since the Moon is actually the same size, our minds make it look bigger when it's near the horizon to compensate for the increased distance. Your brain plays tricks like these all the time, but don't be discouraged, everyone experiences it.

 

Click the picture to watch a video by AsapSCIENCE.