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The Size of the Moon: History & Mystery. PHL 329U Jason Avent & Flip Kromer. Which Looks Right?. Which Looks Right?. Folk Depictions of the Horizon Moon. Real Photos of the Moon. White Sands. Moon Illusion is Well Known.
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The Size of the Moon:History & Mystery PHL 329U Jason Avent & Flip Kromer
Moon Illusion is Well Known • “The Moon illusion is arguably the oldest unsolved problem in modern science. It is mentioned in cuneiform script on clay tablets from the royal library of Nineveh and Babylon, dating from before the sixth century BC, and in a collection of Chinese legends ascribed to the Taoist philosopher Lieh-tzu, dating from the fifth century BC.” - M. Hershenson.
The Moon Looks Biggerat the Horizon – Why? • Because it IS bigger • Atmospheric Refraction • Because You’re Closer • Because Nearby objects make it bigger • Optical Illusion • Because of the Dome of the Sky • Psycho-Optical Effects
What Does This Tell Us? • Because it IS bigger • Atmospheric Refraction • Because You’re Closer • Because Nearby objects make it bigger • Optical Illusion • Because of the Dome of the Sky • Psycho-Optical Effects
Perception • We are going to show some pictures and ask questions about those pictures. You may have seen these before • However, don’t give the answer that you might think we want, or an answer you may know from seeing an explanation – just answer honestly based on your perception.
Ponzo Illusion • Which circle is bigger?
Inconsistent Experiences • Why do we call it an Illusion? • Why is a photograph convincing • Is Human Perception ever superior to instrumentation? • Is Perception valid in Scientific Inquiry? • How do we deal with Inconsistent Experiences?