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

Step outside any evening this week 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!

You've just experienced the Moon Illusion.

Sky watchers have known this for thousands of years: moons hanging low in the sky look unnaturally big. Cameras don't see it, but our eyes do. It's a real illusion.

This week's full moon hangs lower in the sky than any full moon since June 1987, so the Moon Illusion is going to be extra strong.

What makes the moon so low? It's summer. Remember, the sun and the full Moon are on opposite sides of the sky. During summer the sun is high, which means the full moon must be low. This week’s full moon occurs on June 22nd, barely a day after the summer solstice on June 21st--perfect timing for the Moon Illusion.

:)

For more info just google Moon Illusion June 2005!! :thumbsup:

Just seen it now - it's massive!

It's weird as it seemed normal size last night. I love this time of year because, on a clear night, you can see blue sky in the North and it never goes completely dark.

I was up on a mountain in Wales last night and the sun didn't disappear over the horizon until 10.35pm!

I love the fat moon lying on the Horizon. Why do we see it as so big? It's beautiful.

We sang the Goodnight Luna song from Bear in the Big Blue House to it on the way to dropping me off at work tonight. :)

You can (unles you have quite small fingers) always cover the moon with your thumb at arms length.

It's a strange time of year, because today is, I am informed, the Longest Day of the Year.

Yet incredibly, it still has 24 hours!!!!!

Originally posted by Ousetunes
It's a strange time of year, because today is, I am informed, the Longest Day of the Year.

Yet incredibly, it still has 24 hours!!!!!

It feels much longer if you have to watch the Most Haunted Summer Solstice Live Special, trust me.

Tonight is supposedly going to be the best night to view this...

Moonrise times throughout the UK tonight:

Dover 10.29pm
London 10.38pm
Penzance 10.50pm
Cardiff 10.50pm
Birmingham 10.52pm
Manchester 11.03pm
Leeds 11.03pm
Newcastle 11.14pm
Belfast 11.28pm
Edinburgh 11.31pm
Glasgow 11.35pm
Aberdeen 11.42pm
Wick 12.04pm

Enjoy

:thumbsup:

I saw it last night when I came back from work. I'm living near Chinley in the Peak District this week and the moon didn't rise above the hills until just after midnight, and sank again at 1am!

It was beautiful, especially becaue the air was perfectly clear (no air or light pollution like you get in the city).

Made me feel all funny inside (but that might have been the drink I had after finishing my shift ;) )