At night, the moon appears smaller when it is overhead than when it is on the horizon. According to your textbook, how do psychologists explain this illusion
A)The retinal image generated by the moon is smaller when the moon is overhead than when it is on the horizon.
B)We misperceive the moon as more distant when it is on the horizon than when it is overhead; therefore the retinal image generated by the moon must be of a larger object than when it is overhead.
C)The moon is more distant from the earth when it is overhead than when it is on the horizon.
D)The atmosphere scatters the moon's light to a greater extent when the moon is on the horizon than when it is overhead, making the moon appear larger.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The moon illusion, where the moon appears larger on the horizon than when overhead, is explained by our perception of the moon being more distant when it's on the horizon. This perception makes us interpret the retinal image as coming from a larger object, despite the retinal size being the same in both positions.

At Night, the Moon Appears Smaller When It Is Overhead