Interesting Lunar Fact.

[ballaratdragons]

As we look into the heavens with our Naked Eyes we see the magnificent Moon dominating the night sky. We can see details such as the Mares, the mountains and the larger craters. All with our bare eyes. We say things such as 'What a Beautiful Big Moon tonight'.

Now, would you believe that the Moon is visually much, much smaller than we percieve it.

SIMPLE TEST: (please try it)
1. Hold an average sized pea between your finger and thumb,
2. Go outside and look up at the magnificent Moon,
3. Hold the pea at arms length and cover the moon.

Damn small ain't it! And yet with the naked eye it looks BIG and we can see incredible detail.

The Moon is approx 8mm at average arm length.

If you are unable to view the Moon have a look at 8mm on a rule held at arms length. Hard to believe isn't it!

Another piece of Trivial nonsense to amaze your party guests :P

[RAJAH235]

Hi Ken, I have a simple way to show people the 'size' of the moon. If you hold your index finger up at arms length,(I said INDEX finger), the average width is around 1 degree. The moon is 1/2 degree or 30 arc minutes in diam. So you have a basic way of explaining to people, who come up & say "Wow, the moon is sooo big tonight"! You just tell them it's an optical illusion, because they have something at ground level to compare it with. Just be careful when you point your finger at them tho!
Also you must have BIG "Ps" down there!! :P :D L.

[ballaratdragons]

LOL! They are Country fresh.

[iceman]

I love the "moon illusion" when it's close to the horizon.. on saturday arvo when the almost full moon was rising it was magnificient.