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 viewer's location and the time of night.

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

The Man in the Moon

The Man in the Moon as viewed from the Southern Hemisphere.
See why the Moon is different below the Equator.

The Lady Reading a Book

The Beetle

The Rabbit

St. George Slaying the Dragon
Visible in the Southern Hemisphere, where the moon appears "upside down."
(Thank you, Cynthia)
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.