By the light, of the silvery moon... the Solstice moon tonight...

[babylonsister]

Moon to play optical illusions tonight
By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH


Earthlings will think their eyes are playing tricks on them Wednesday, starting from sunset: If you step outside, you'll see a form rising from the east that looks like the full moon, complete with craters forming a human-like face - but it will be massive. This is called the Solstice Moon

It arrives only two days before the beginning of summer, say space experts, and the sun and full moon are like children 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. The best time to view it is around moonrise, when the moon is peeking through trees and houses or over hills.

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 proved this was not true: Moons on film are the same size, whatever the elevation.

Scientists are still not sure how it happens, but they know that 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.

more...

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1212659757265&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[seemslikeadream]

1. No wonder I am in a good mood tonight

[babylonsister]

2. I'm not, but gorgeous pic. Spread the love! nt

[XOKCowboy]

3. I wish I was in Ambergris Caye tonight...

There's nothing more beautiful than the full moon rising over the ocean. Especially the Caribbean. *sigh*

[babylonsister]

4. Holy moly!

I was there last month, at a place called Corona del... Ambergris is GORGEOUS!

[seemslikeadream]

6. I see you had your good mood last month

[amerikat]

5. it also has some historic value

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eK7QC3tPU0I

[Lex]

7. Well, here's my attempt to photograph it tonight.

Lots of light pollution. Pic's not so good, but there it is from downtown Durham NC:

[babylonsister]

8. Thank you! nt

[Beacool]

9. The moon is gorgeous tonight.

I just came back from seeing "Michael Clayton" outdoors. I live in Hoboken, NJ and we are on the edge of the Hudson river looking at Manhattan. Between the Empire State bldg. decked in yellow, green & blue lights and the huge moon reflecting on the river, it was hard to concentrate on the movie with such a beautiful background.

[babylonsister]

11. Thank you. I'm jealous because it's not happening here.

I'm a New Yorker, and that sounds so sweet to me!

[Genevieve]

12. It is so bright here in New York!

It's gorgeous!

[Beacool]

13. It was a magical night. n/t

[Stardust]

10. Well, it very, very bright tonight, that's for sure. Thanks, babylonsister. n/t