Is the Moon really larger when you see it on the horizon?
The Challenge The Challenge

You’re sitting on a beach, watching the Moon rise. It looks big — really big. A few hours later, when it’s high in the sky, it looks a lot smaller. What’s going on? You know the Moon itself hasn’t shrunk. But is the image of the Moon on the horizon actually bigger? Or is your brain playing tricks on you? Your challenge is to design and carry out an experiment, using the telescope and its camera, to answer the question, "Is the Moon really larger when it is near the horizon than when it is higher in the sky?" There’s more than meets the eye here. In fact, this question stumps the experts. See if you can set the record straight!

 Does the Moon look larger when you see it on the horizon?


UniSchooLabS is funded with support from the European Commission.
This document reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.