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Re: (meteorobs) Fwd: Re: [meteorite-list] Fireballs & Optical Delusions
I've discussed the illusion of a meteor (or aurora) seen silhouetted in front
of distant hills here before (and in Sky and Space magazine). When the
distance to the object is misperceived as being very close, then the height
is also scaled down. If this "perceived" height is, say, 200m, but the
distant hills are, say, 800m, then the object is "below" the hills. People
do not remember the "photographic" details of an event but the general story
line. Thus, the meteor is remembered as being "below the horizon" and this
is all part of the ILLUSION. If there is a DELUSION here, it is another
story as to how some people stubbornly hold to such views which are rather
naively based on a "photographic" view of perception.
Cheers, Rob
Robert H. McNaught
rmn@aaocbn.aaodot gov.au
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