Moon Illusions

The Man in the Moon, the Lady in the Moon and More

There are quite a few images that one can see when looking at the full moon, depending on the season, the viewers location and the time of night.

These images are only visible to the naked eye, as any magnification through telescope or binocular destroys the illusion.

The Man in the Moon The Man in the Moon

The Lady Reading a Book The Lady Reading a Book

The Beetle The Beetle

The Rabbit The Rabbit

The Rabbit St. George Slaying the Dragon
This image is visible in the southern hemisphere,
where the moon appears "upside down"
(Thank you, Cynthia)
For an explanation see,
The Moon Below the Equator

There are dozens of other figures that some can see including the Madonna and Child, the Crab and the Donkey.

Thanks to A Field Guide to the Stars and Planets by Donald H. Menzel, H.M. Co, 1979, p. 250-251 for much of the information presented here.

Back to The Moon Page