The much larger appearance of the moon near horizon than the perceived size of the moon at zenith has motivated many scientists to develop theories that aim at explaining this puzzling phenomenon. Considering that the size of retinal images of the moon in these positions are very similar, the explanation of difference in their apparent sizes has relied on perceptual cues of distance embedded in the retinal image of their respective contexts. Although this account of the moon illusion is quite popular, it does not explain all aspects of this phenomenon. The theoretical formulation of the moon illusion based on other factors such as size contrast later may have had some advantages but has also created some new problems. Although the moon is perceived in a three-dimensional (3D) environment, the present analysis proposes that an explanation of the moon illusion based on two-dimensional (2D) cues can remove some of the unnecessary problems. The empty space and size contrast that have already been considered in explaining classic geometric-optical illusions play a parallel role in explaining the moon illusion. In other words, the role of open space in interaction with the image of the moon and different objects near horizon, all reflected on the retina, are considered as the main explaining factors. The advantages of this approach will be discussed and some of the facts pertaining to the moon illusion will be explained within this theoretical framework.

月球在地平线附近的外观比天顶处的月球尺寸要大得多，这促使许多科学家发展出旨在解释这一令人费解的现象的理论。考虑到月球在这些位置的视网膜图像的大小非常相似，对它们表观大小差异的解释依赖于嵌入在各自背景下的视网膜图像中的距离感知线索。虽然这种月亮错觉的说法很流行，但它并不能解释这一现象的所有方面。后来基于大小对比等其他因素的月亮错觉的理论表述可能有一些优势，但也产生了一些新问题。虽然月亮是在三维 (3D) 环境中感知的，目前的分析提出，基于二维 (2D) 线索的月球错觉解释可以消除一些不必要的问题。在解释经典几何光学错觉时已经考虑的空白空间和大小对比在解释月亮错觉中起着平行的作用。换句话说，开放空间与月亮和地平线附近不同物体的图像相互作用的作用，都反映在视网膜上，被认为是主要的解释因素。将讨论这种方法的优点，并在这个理论框架内解释与月亮错觉有关的一些事实。在解释经典几何光学错觉时已经考虑的空白空间和大小对比在解释月亮错觉中起着平行的作用。换句话说，开放空间与月亮和地平线附近不同物体的图像相互作用的作用，都反映在视网膜上，被认为是主要的解释因素。将讨论这种方法的优点，并在这个理论框架内解释与月亮错觉有关的一些事实。在解释经典几何光学错觉时已经考虑的空白空间和大小对比在解释月亮错觉中起着平行的作用。换句话说，开放空间与月亮和地平线附近不同物体的图像相互作用的作用，都反映在视网膜上，被认为是主要的解释因素。将讨论这种方法的优点，并在这个理论框架内解释与月亮错觉有关的一些事实。