Tonight is the "Solstice Moon" Go outside & check it out at Sunset

[Warph]

Science.nasa.gov


June 16 , 2008: Sometimes you just can't believe your eyes. This week is one of those times.
On Wednesday night, June 18th, step outside at sunset and look around. You'll see a giant form rising in the east. At first glance it looks like the full Moon. It has craters and seas and the face of a man, but this "moon" is strangely inflated. It's huge!


You've just experienced the Moon Illusion.

There's no better time to see it. The full Moon of June 18th is a "solstice moon", coming only two days before the beginning of northern summer. This is significant because the sun and full Moon are like kids on a see-saw; when one is high, the other is low. This week's high solstice sun gives us a low, horizon-hugging Moon and a strong Moon Illusion.
Sky watchers have known for thousands of years that low-hanging moons look unnaturally big. At first, astronomers thought the atmosphere must be magnifying the Moon near the horizon, but cameras showed that is not the case. Moons on film are the same size regardless of elevation: example. Apparently, only human beings see giant moons.

Are we crazy?

After all these years, scientists still aren't sure. When you look at the Moon, rays of moonlight converge and form an image about 0.15 mm wide on the retina in the back of your eye. High moons and low moons make the same sized spot, yet the brain insists one is bigger than the other. Go figure.


Check out the rest of the article above.

[Lookatmeknow!!]

The moon was very bright last night!  I noticed it was shining in my eyes and it normally doesn't.  It was beautiful!!!

[greatguns]

Looked like any other cloudy night we have had forever.   Did catch a look at it last night with the clouds passing between it an dme.  It was pretty.

[patyrn]

I have just observed the "Solstice Moon" appearing to rise in the sky, starting at 9:40 p.m. on the outskirts of Oklahoma City.  It is very vivid and orange-looking, but it is gliding behind clouds as it is moving higher in the sky and is nearly blocked now.  Very interesting sight!!!!

[frawin]

Karen you described it perfectly the same as it is here. Very interesting.
Frank

[Lookatmeknow!!]

I'm so mad, I didn't catch it.  The youngest daughter had to go to bed and of course with me.  So I did look at 9:30 and couldn't see anything.  I wanted to get a picture of it.  I am mad because I didn't see it!!!