Solstice Moon Illusion

[weatherbud]

Sometimes you just can't believe your eyes. This week is one of those times.

On Wednesday night, June 18th, step outside at sunset and look around. You'll see a giant form rising in the east. At first glance it looks like the full Moon. It has craters and seas and the face of a man, but this "moon" is strangely inflated. It's huge!

You've just experienced the Moon Illusion.

There's no better time to see it. The full Moon of June 18th is a "solstice moon", coming only two days before the beginning of northern summer. This is significant because the sun and full Moon are like kids on a see-saw; when one is high, the other is low. This week's high solstice sun gives us a low, horizon-hugging Moon and a strong Moon Illusion.

Sky watchers have known for thousands of years that low-hanging moons look unnaturally big. At first, astronomers thought the atmosphere must be magnifying the Moon near the horizon, but cameras showed that is not the case. Moons on film are the same size regardless of elevation: example. Apparently, only human beings see giant moons.


The full moon rising over Manchester, Maryland. Credit: Edmund E. Kasaitis.

SOURCE

[herasday]

THANK YOU!!!

Now I'll stop trying to take pictures of it and just enjoy..... LOL.

You have no idea how many times I've tried to capture that on film.

It happens at other times of the year, too, when the moon rises early in the evening, or maybe its around the other solar points of the calendar...not sure. Maybe around the time of both solstices or the equinox. I know that one of my unsuccessful and soooo disappointing attempts to get a pic of a huge glabrous moon hanging just above the horizon was around the time of fall equinox, but not sure how close to it.

My question is....how was that picture compiled, since it does show the moon as being that large? Is it part artwork, all artwork, or is it a photo that has been edited to make it appear like we see it?

No matter, I guess. I am just glad to find out that I can forget about trying to capture it on film. I took the most lovely picture once....streaks of sunset pinks and mauves and lavenders still lighting a few wispy clouds, the moon floating golden-orange cream- maize color in the northeast sky and looking like a basketball hanging about ten feet away...but with trees in front of it, in a vivid purple sky......

What I got was a completely black sky, no trees or horizon showing because it was so dark, and a tiny speck of pale sickly yellow that was not even recognizable as the moon until I blew up the image several times. LOL.

[greenasagourd]

Originally Posted by herasday

... What I got was a completely black sky, ...

I've learned when photographing sunrises & sunsets, the best shots are before it looks best to the naked eye. Snap earlier & bracket the f-stop if your camera allows. Also, a polarizing filter will help bring out more detail.

I'll be moon gazing tonight!

[Lumara]

I'm waiting for sunset so I can see this, too.

[weatherbud]

So who among you guys captured it? :D

[greenasagourd]

I did take a couple of photos, but they didn't turn out too well. I can't see the horizon well from my house, so the moon needed to rise a bit. I looked too early & then too late. Oh well, anyone else capture it?

[Sirk]

We had a huge thunderstorm last night and I missed the moon. I'm so disapointed. :(

[herasday]

Originally Posted by Sirk

We had a huge thunderstorm last night and I missed the mood. I'm so disapointed. :(

I missed it too when it was first rising because of scattered clouds that happened to scatter along the horizon side of the sky.

But even though it may not be a wonderfully big appearing it should still be beautiful for a few days. June moon and all. So keep a watch out.