[quote=Night Owl;301931]
I have a hunch, based on my previous visual experiments with water / liquid, that a rising full moon 'appears' much bigger as it rises as the greater thickness of the atmosphere you are looking through as the moon rises above the horizon, is acting on the transmission of the light from the moon, just like is does when viewing objects through water in a fish tank, and underwater.
I have tested the 'psychological' explanation, and it just doesn't cut it.
I have made a point of being at the bottom of an extremely steep granite cliff, that was close to 2500 feet, and I have observed the moon 'rise' above the top of the cliff, through the trees, and a fire watch tower, and at that elevation it would be above the horizon, roughly 30 degress, it does not 'appear' to look the same 'big' size it does as it 'rises' above the horizon as if you were out on the plains watching it rise.
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I have no way to measure wether there is an actual size difference due to atmospheric distortion close to the horizon. It would be great if someone out there could do the experiment.
I Disagree with the lack of size illusion at higher elevations though. I find that there is little difference compared to looking at the moon rising over a mountain peek or distant tree line. I have done the "hold little fingertip out at arms length" experiment at different moon elevations (very scientific
) and found the same effect: it does look bigger.
Well, thats just my thoughts.