Measuring the Apparent Size of the Moon with a Digital Camera

Autor/inn/en	Ellery, Adam; Hughes, Stephen
Titel	Measuring the Apparent Size of the Moon with a Digital Camera
Quelle	In: Physics Education, 47 (2012) 5, S.616-619 (4 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0031-9120
DOI	10.1088/0031-9120/47/5/616
Schlagwörter	Astronomy; Space Sciences; Photography; Science Activities; Laboratory Equipment; Science Instruction; Measurement Techniques; Secondary School Science; High Schools; Teaching Methods + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Astronomie; Fotografie; Laborausstattung; Teaching of science; Science education; Natural sciences Lessons; Naturwissenschaftlicher Unterricht; Messtechnik; High school; Oberschule; Teaching method; Lehrmethode; Unterrichtsmethode
Abstract	The Moon appears to be much larger closer to the horizon than when higher in the sky. This is called the "Moon illusion" since the observed size of the Moon is not actually larger when the Moon is just above the horizon. This paper describes a technique for verifying that the observed size of the Moon is not larger on the horizon. The technique can be performed easily in a high-school teaching environment. Moreover, the technique demonstrates the surprising fact that the observed size of the Moon is actually smaller on the horizon due to atmospheric refraction. For the purposes of this paper, several images of the Moon were taken with it close to the horizon and close to the zenith. The images were processed using a free program called ImageJ. The Moon was found to be 5.73 [plus or minus] 0.04% smaller in area on the horizon then at the zenith. (Contains 4 figures.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Institute of Physics Publishing. The Public Ledger Building Suite 929, 150 South Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 215-627-0880; Fax: 215-627-0879; e-mail: info@ioppubusa.com; Web site: http://journals.iop.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10