Summer moon illusion:happy summer solstice

[boann]

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/20jun_moonillusion.htm

Summer moon illusion: Moon 'largest' since 1987

Sometimes you can't believe your eyes. This week is one of those times.

Step outside any evening at sunset and look around. You'll see a giant moon rising in the east.

It looks like Earth's moon, round and cratered; the Man in the Moon is in his usual place. But something's wrong. This full moon is strangely inflated. It's huge!

This week's full moon occurs June 22nd, the day after summer solstice, which makes perfect timing for this illusion.

UPDATED: Tuesday, June 21, 2005 3:51:27 PM
CLEVELAND.com

[boann]

A time-lapse sequence of the moon rising over Seattle. To the camera, the moon appears to be the same size no matter what its location on the sky. Credit and copyright: Shay Stephens

[MrFun]

hey, thanks for the heads up

[reds4ever]

Last night was be best in the UK, the Moon was just over the horizon pretty much all night.

I explained what was happening to a guy I work with. He nodded but I could tell he didn't believe me! I told him to hold a ruler at arms length when the Moon was at zenith, measure the mm and try again when it was at the horizon. He still looked like "but it IS bigger"

[boann]

guess there are a couple of astronomy geeks around here besides me.

[reds4ever]

Originally posted by boann
guess there are a couple of astronomy geeks around here besides me.

I'm bored! Lat 53 N (ie permanent twilight!)

I've got clear skies, the only reason I'm posting is that I've got the full moon in the south and the sun is just about setting in the north (or it seems that way)

We're getting about 2 hours per night darkness at the moment, it's not a good return on having 6 telescopes!

Have you got any scopes boann?

[Lancer]

Does anyone else notice the string of alien saucers coming from behind the moon and landing on the far side of that city?

[boann]

i used to have a Celestron
beautiful scope but my ex sold it for cash
didn't find out about it till after the fact.

oh well , i would not be able to see as well in
the city anyway.

when i had it , i lived up in the mountains
in the back country.. and you could see everything.
i took some interesting pictures since i was able
to attach my 35 mm camera to it.

i would love to have one of those new ones with a
gps system .

http://www.celestron.com/prod_pgs/tel/cge925.php

the one i had was similar to the photo below

[boann]

Originally posted by Lancer
Does anyone else notice the string of alien saucers coming from behind the moon and landing on the far side of that city?

no i don't see anything..

[MrFun]

I bet MTG did!

[Urban Ranger]

We can't see jack! It has been pouring for the last few weeks

[reds4ever]

Originally posted by boann
i used to have a Celestron
beautiful scope but my ex sold it for cash
didn't find out about it till after the fact.

oh well , i would not be able to see as well in
the city anyway.

when i had it , i lived up in the mountains
in the back country.. and you could see everything.
i took some interesting pictures since i was able
to attach my 35 mm camera to it.

i would love to have one of those new ones with a
gps system .

http://www.celestron.com/prod_pgs/tel/cge925.php

the one i had was similar to the photo below

The Celestron 9.25 SCT is one of the best scopes out there! GPS is overated IMHO, it's for lazy astronomers!