Why does the sun and moon appear to be the same size when viewed from earth.My answer is because the sun is bigger than the moon. Am I correct
Isn't the moon much closer?
Actually, your answer is not entirely accurate. Although the sun is indeed much larger than the moon, it is actually the moon's distance from Earth that makes it appear roughly the same size as the sun when viewed from our planet.
The sun's diameter is about 1.4 million kilometers, while the moon's diameter is only about 3,474 kilometers. Clearly, the sun is much bigger. However, the moon is around 384,400 kilometers from Earth, whereas the sun is about 149.6 million kilometers away.
As a result, the moon's closer proximity compensates for its smaller size, and this translates into a fascinating phenomenon: during a total solar eclipse, when the moon passes in front of the sun, it perfectly covers the sun's disk, creating what appears to be the same size and shape as the moon. This alignment creates a striking visual effect, allowing us to witness the remarkable spectacle of a completely darkened sky in the middle of the day.
Therefore, it is not solely due to the sun's larger size that the sun and moon can appear to be the same size from Earth, but rather a delicate balance of distance and diameter.