The moon's sometimes larger look when it is close to the horizon is an optical illusion.

Misconception

Phases of the Moon are caused by a shadow from the Earth, clouds, or the Earth's or Moon's rotation.

Reality

Our perspective of the Moon's sunlit appearance changes as it orbits Earth.

Misconception

Different countries see different phases of the Moon on the same day.

Reality

Everyone sees the same phases of the Moon, but people south of the equator who face North to see the Moon when it is high in the sky will see the Moon upside down so that the reverse side is lit.

Misconception

The Moon goes around the Earth in a single day.

Reality

It takes about a month for the Moon to orbit Earth (27.3 days to complete a revolution, but 29.5 days to change from New Moon to New Moon).

Misconception

The Moon makes its own light (the same way the Sun does).

Reality

The Moon reflects the light of the Sun, just as the planets do. In fact, the bright part of the Moon is experiencing daytime.

Misconception

The Moon does not rotate.

Reality

The Moon does spin on its axis, completing a rotation once every 27.3 days; the confusion is caused because it also takes the same period to orbit the Earth, so that it keeps the same side facing us.

Misconception

The same half of the Moon is in darkness all the time-i.e. that there is a dark side of the Moon.

Reality

The Moon has no side that is constantly dark; the front and back are alternately lit as the Moon rotates. Far side is a more accurate term.

Misconception: The Moon has no gravity; things float "up" when dropped on the Moon.

Reality: The Moon does have gravity, but because it has less mass than the Earth, it has 1/6 of Earth's gravity at its surface.

Misconception

The Moon is only visible at night.

Reality

We frequently see the Moon in the day; the only phases of the Moon that cannot be seen in the day are full moon (which is usually only visible at night) and the new moon (which is not visible from Earth at all).

Misconception

The Moon becomes larger on the horizon because it is closer to Earth.

Reality

This is an optical illusion. For reasons not fully understood by astronomers or psychologists, low-hanging moons look unnaturally large when they beam through trees, building or other foreground objects.