Why is moon larger when rising in the east and set?

Answer 1

The main reason for this is the Moon's proximity to Earth. Both the Sun and the Moon affect the Earth's tides, but because the Moon is so close (relative to the Sun) it has the greater ability to affect them, even though the moon is so small compared to the Sun.

Answer 2

The Moon appears larger when rising in the east and setting in the west due to an optical illusion known as the Moon Illusion. This phenomenon occurs when the Moon is near the horizon, and our brain interprets it against familiar objects like trees or buildings, making it seem larger. As the Moon rises higher in the sky, this illusion diminishes, and the Moon appears smaller.

Answer 3

Actually, it doesn't; if the Earth weren't spinning so fast, the Moon would rise in the west and set in the east.

But here in the "real world" where the world IS spinning once per day, EVERYTHING appears to rise in the east and set in the west - because the Earth itself is spinning from west to east. The Sun doesn't move much, and the stars (for all practical purposes) don't move enough in a lifetime for you to see it. If the Earth weren't spinning, the sky would be very boring.

Answer 4

Strangely, yes. The Sun is FAR more massive than the Moon; you might think that the Sun's enormously greater mass would cause more influence on the tides. But even though the Moon is much smaller, it is FAR closer, and distance counts more than mass does.

The Moon has a greater influence on the tides than the Sun does.

Answer 5

The moon controls our oceans tides. The sun only controls 44% of the tides while the moon controls the other 56%. It is all about gravitational pull. The moon is closer to the earth than the sun is.

Answer 6

The movement of the sun across the sky is called "apparent motion". It seems to move, but of course it is not moving around the earth in a very big, very fast circle. It seems to move, because of the earth's rotation on its axis. The earth is moving from west to east. As a result of this movement, when the sun comes into view at any point, it is coming over the eastern horizon.

Answer 7

The moon is larger when rising because it is actually closer and the perspective is different.

The atmosphere makes it look larger as the ozone layer is reflecting light off the sun to the moon and from the moon to the earth to your retinas.

2nd Answer:

The moon is no larger when rising than when it is overhead. It seems like it, though, because at its rising, you can compare the moon's size with trees, houses, and so forth. But in the middle of the sky, there is nothing to compare it to, and therefore, it looks smaller.

To prove it (as I have a number of times) hold a piece of paper at arm's length at the moon (so you can repeat and alway get the same distance from your face) and carefully mark the top and the bottom of the moon on the paper. It's easier if you have a helper. Later when the moon rises enough into the sky that it appears smaller, hold your paper up to the moon, and you should find that it still fits those marks on your paper!

Answer 8

It isn't larger. It doesn't even look larger on photographs, for example. In other words, it is some kind of optical illusion.

It isn't larger. It doesn't even look larger on photographs, for example. In other words, it is some kind of optical illusion.

It isn't larger. It doesn't even look larger on photographs, for example. In other words, it is some kind of optical illusion.

It isn't larger. It doesn't even look larger on photographs, for example. In other words, it is some kind of optical illusion.

Answer 9

yes it does because it has to circle and while it is doing that the moon is circling around the earth. The atmosphere has moisture in it. This moisture can act like a magnifying glass and make the moon appear bigger in the sky at or near the horizion.

If you look straight up you can see little or no moisture but if you look at the horizion youre looking through 15-20 miles of 63 mile thick atmosphere. This same effect happens to the sun as well. It doesnt happen everyday because the atmospheric conditions have to be just right. This is best seen at the ocean.

Answer 10

The appearance that the Moon is higher when rising or setting is an illusion caused by having something nearby to compare it to; a tree, and building, something attached to the ground. High in the sky, the Moon appears to be smaller. But when measured, the angular width of the Moon is the same.

The Moon DOES get closer and further away; the Moon's orbit is an ellipse, and when it is at perigee, the Moon is about 50,000 miles closer than at apogee.