The moon appears larger at the horizon than when straight above because of what?
A)Fatigue of neck muscles when you look up
B)Differences in the actual distance from the moon to the Earth
C)Distortion of light rays as they pass through the Earth's atmosphere
D)An optical illusion unrelated to any physical distortion

Question

The moon appears larger at the horizon than when straight above because of what?​
A)Fatigue of neck muscles when you look up
B)​Differences in the actual distance from the moon to the Earth
C)​Distortion of light rays as they pass through the Earth's atmosphere
D)​An optical illusion unrelated to any physical distortion

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The moon appearing larger at the horizon than when it is directly overhead is an optical illusion known as the Moon illusion. This phenomenon is not due to physical distortions such as atmospheric refraction or differences in distance, but rather to how our brain perceives the size of the moon in relation to its surroundings and the horizon.

The Moon Appears Larger at the Horizon Than When Straight