Comments on: Why does the rising moon look so big? http://boingboing.net/2011/11/09/why-does-the-rising-moon-look-so-big.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Mon, 20 May 2013 03:15:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Guest http://boingboing.net/2011/11/09/why-does-the-rising-moon-look-so-big.html#comment-1266897 Guest Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=128337#comment-1266897 The atmospheric lensing hypothesis is probably the oldest, and yet the most incorrect explanation. The problem with the lensing argument is that the moon really does not change size. At all. Do the quarter/thumb/pinky trick. The atmosphere squishes the moon and affects its color, but it doesn't magnify it.  The atmospheric lensing hypothesis is probably the oldest, and yet the most incorrect explanation. The problem with the lensing argument is that the moon really does not change size. At all. Do the quarter/thumb/pinky trick.

The atmosphere squishes the moon and affects its color, but it doesn’t magnify it. 

]]> By: Noctilucent Studios http://boingboing.net/2011/11/09/why-does-the-rising-moon-look-so-big.html#comment-1266410 Noctilucent Studios Thu, 10 Nov 2011 02:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=128337#comment-1266410 I have seen this explanation proffered many, many times and it has never made sense to me.  The moon looks larger on the horizon because it's light is passing through more/thicker atmosphere.....same way the moon appears warped and bendy when seen rising from space. I've seen the Bad Astronomer get several things wrong over the years. I have seen this explanation proffered many, many times and it has never made sense to me.  The moon looks larger on the horizon because it’s light is passing through more/thicker atmosphere…..same way the moon appears warped and bendy when seen rising from space. I’ve seen the Bad Astronomer get several things wrong over the years.

]]> By: garyg2 http://boingboing.net/2011/11/09/why-does-the-rising-moon-look-so-big.html#comment-1266199 garyg2 Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=128337#comment-1266199 [clueless Brit hits Google] ooh yeah.... obviously an alien master race, stealthy infiltrating our... science.  [clueless Brit hits Google]

ooh yeah…. obviously an alien master race, stealthy infiltrating our… science. 

]]> By: Greg Boustead http://boingboing.net/2011/11/09/why-does-the-rising-moon-look-so-big.html#comment-1266088 Greg Boustead Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=128337#comment-1266088 But what about when someone holds a Coronita bottle and they convincingly look like a bonafide giant from a mythical land (or hold a tallboy Budweiser and look like a dwarf)? Even science can't explain THAT. But what about when someone holds a Coronita bottle and they convincingly look like a bonafide giant from a mythical land (or hold a tallboy Budweiser and look like a dwarf)? Even science can’t explain THAT.

]]> By: Matt_B http://boingboing.net/2011/11/09/why-does-the-rising-moon-look-so-big.html#comment-1266004 Matt_B Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=128337#comment-1266004 according to the rules of perspective drawing, lines convergent to an unseen point are meant to be parallel in 3D.  That is,  in the world of the comic, the girls are standing in front of an actual police line-up background with parallel lines. according to the rules of perspective drawing, lines convergent to an unseen point are meant to be parallel in 3D.  That is,  in the world of the comic, the girls are standing in front of an actual police line-up background with parallel lines.

]]> By: Brian Huntington http://boingboing.net/2011/11/09/why-does-the-rising-moon-look-so-big.html#comment-1265947 Brian Huntington Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=128337#comment-1265947 I believe the lines are meant to be convergent and not parallel, hence the optical illusion.  I believe the lines are meant to be convergent and not parallel, hence the optical illusion. 

]]> By: Guest http://boingboing.net/2011/11/09/why-does-the-rising-moon-look-so-big.html#comment-1265920 Guest Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=128337#comment-1265920 Ha! I've always thought Phil, Richard Wiseman, and Jason Zimbler (formerly Ferguson on "Clarissa Explains it All") look eerily alike :D Ha! I’ve always thought Phil, Richard Wiseman, and Jason Zimbler (formerly Ferguson on “Clarissa Explains it All”) look eerily alike :D

]]> By: garyg2 http://boingboing.net/2011/11/09/why-does-the-rising-moon-look-so-big.html#comment-1265883 garyg2 Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=128337#comment-1265883 Cool. But I don't get what Sir Clive Sinclair has to do with any of this... Cool.

But I don’t get what Sir Clive Sinclair has to do with any of this…

]]> By: davidsfp http://boingboing.net/2011/11/09/why-does-the-rising-moon-look-so-big.html#comment-1265873 davidsfp Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=128337#comment-1265873 " only-sorta-creepy Phil Plait"  The cartoon Phil or the real one? ” only-sorta-creepy Phil Plait”  The cartoon Phil or the real one?

]]> By: Matt_B http://boingboing.net/2011/11/09/why-does-the-rising-moon-look-so-big.html#comment-1265802 Matt_B Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=128337#comment-1265802 See 5th panel -- if the characters the same height (and from panels 3 & 7 they pretty much are), then they should measure the same number of parallel lines.  Unless they mean the drawings are the same size?  See 5th panel — if the characters the same height (and from panels 3 & 7 they pretty much are), then they should measure the same number of parallel lines.  Unless they mean the drawings are the same size? 

]]> By: Rich Keller http://boingboing.net/2011/11/09/why-does-the-rising-moon-look-so-big.html#comment-1265794 Rich Keller Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=128337#comment-1265794 I'm going to hold a transparent plastic thing at arm's length at moonrise and mark the diameter of the moon on it. Then, when the moon is more overhead, I'll compare its diameter to the marks I made.   Science! I’m going to hold a transparent plastic thing at arm’s length at moonrise and mark the diameter of the moon on it. Then, when the moon is more overhead, I’ll compare its diameter to the marks I made.
 
Science!

]]> By: David Forbes http://boingboing.net/2011/11/09/why-does-the-rising-moon-look-so-big.html#comment-1265791 David Forbes Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=128337#comment-1265791 A good way to convince people that the moon doesn't shrink as it rises: Have them hold their thumb at arms length and measure the moon with it as the full moon is rising, then do the same a few hours later. They can make a pen mark on the thumb to be sure they don't forget. A good way to convince people that the moon doesn’t shrink as it rises: Have them hold their thumb at arms length and measure the moon with it as the full moon is rising, then do the same a few hours later. They can make a pen mark on the thumb to be sure they don’t forget.

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