# Moon Illusion

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moon-illusion/633898>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [September 6, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moon-illusion/633898 "2012-09-06T20:04:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![GregB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/da6949/32.png) [@GregB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GregB)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moon-illusion/633898/1 "2012-09-06T20:04:19Z")

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When the moon is on the horizon, stand with your back to the moon, bend forward and look at it upside down through your legs. The illusion vanishes! GregB

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**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moon-illusion/633898/2 "2012-09-06T20:06:15Z")

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I assume you mean the illusion that the moon appears larger while near the horizon?

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**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moon-illusion/633898/3 "2012-09-07T01:50:28Z")

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Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Boards, **GregB** , we’re glad you found us. For future ref, when you start a thread, it’s helpful to other readers to provide a link to the column you’re commenting on. In this case, I assume it’s: [Why does the moon appear bigger near the horizon? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/831/why-does-the-moon-appear-bigger-near-the-horizon)

If you intended someting else, let me know and I’ll be glad to fix. No biggie, you’ll know for next time, and, as I say, welcome!

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**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moon-illusion/633898/4 "2012-09-07T02:20:42Z")

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I can’t wait to try this. If true, it will be fascinating.

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**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moon-illusion/633898/5 "2012-09-07T02:24:01Z")

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> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#):
>
> I can’t wait to try this. If true, it will be fascinating.

Make sure you’re looking at the right moon.

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**Author:** ![Fish\_Cheer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fish_cheer/32/17179_2.png) [@Fish\_Cheer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish_Cheer)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moon-illusion/633898/6 "2012-09-07T05:37:02Z")

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That’s no moon!