One would think that the Moon is farther from us when it is at its highest point in the sky than at the horizon, but actually it appears that the opposite is true. Scientists have found that, illusion aside, a full Moon looks about 1.5 percent smaller when it is at the horizon than when, in this example, it is right above us, at zenith, because to see the Moon at the horizon, we are first looking across the radius of Earth (about 4,000 miles) and then on into space to the Moon. When the Moon is at the zenith, we are looking straight from our location on Earth’s surface into space to the Moon. (Note: The highest point of the Moon’s arc, as it crosses the meridian, may not be directly overhead, depending on your location and date.) Hope this helps!
One would think that the Moon is farther from us when it is at its highest point in the sky than at the horizon, but actually it appears that the opposite is true. Scientists have found that, illusion aside, a full Moon looks about 1.5 percent smaller when it is at the horizon than when, in this example, it is right above us, at zenith, because to see the Moon at the horizon, we are first looking across the radius of Earth (about 4,000 miles) and then on into space to the Moon. When the Moon is at the zenith, we are looking straight from our location on Earth’s surface into space to the Moon. (Note: The highest point of the Moon’s arc, as it crosses the meridian, may not be directly overhead, depending on your location and date.) Hope this helps!