Sam Harris

This is probably the inappropriate place to post something of this matter, but I know no other.

Sam mentions a "mystery" among neurologists regarding the size of the moon, questions why it appears so much larger when it is in a vertical position.

Maybe I am misguided here, but couldn't it be due to the fact that the moon is much closer to the viewer when it is in the vertical position.

In addition to the physical proximity, this difference can be attributed to atmospheric distortion of the light from the moon.

I'm almost positive this isn't the solution to the mystery, if it's a mystery among neurologists.

Can someone please give me some guidance regarding this question. Please prove me wrong, because the answer seems much too obvious.

-Karl

Try this.

-Matt

That’s great!

Thanks Matt.  :D

Any time.  If you crack it, though, please post your findings.  :wink:

-Matt

If you mean verticle as being overhead, it is not bigger. It is bigger on the two horizons, or at least it appears so.

yes, you are correct, I had them reversed, which makes my original postulation even more incredibly wrong.

It seems to me that what’s important is not that your hypothesis is wrong, but that you are willing to look for the correct answer and to discard obviously wrong answers as they become apparent. Many would simply assume an answer to be correct if it at first glance seemed plausible, or if someone they trust told them it is the Truth.