WHY does the Moon seem so much bigger when it’s near the horizon than when it’s high in the sky? Although scientists have known since ancient times that this is an illusion, they have not agreed on an explanation. Now, an experiment with fake moons may have settled the debate.
The traditional explanation of the Moon illusion is that objects on the horizon give the brain points of reference that suggest the Moon is very distant. But when the Moon is high in the sky, the brain reacts to the lack of visual cues by thinking it is nearer. Because…
