When the moon is low in the sky, it often appears larger and more colorful. This phenomenon is known as the Moon Illusion. The moon is not actually larger when it is low; it is an optical illusion caused by the way our brains perceive objects near the horizon compared to those high in the sky.
When the moon is near the horizon, it is viewed in relation to familiar objects like trees, buildings, and mountains. These objects provide a sense of scale, making the moon appear larger. In contrast, when the moon is high in the sky, there are no reference points, so it seems smaller.
Additionally, the moon’s light passes through more of the Earth’s atmosphere when it is low. This can cause the moon to appear more orange or red due to the scattering of shorter wavelengths of light. This effect is similar to why sunsets and sunrises appear red.
In summary, a low moon appears larger and more colorful due to the Moon Illusion and atmospheric effects, even though its actual size remains the same.