Cite as:
Reed C F, Krupinski E A, 2009, "Terrestrial-passage theory: Failing a test" Perception 38(5) 740 – 747
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Terrestrial-passage theory: Failing a test

Charles F Reed, Elizabeth A Krupinski

Received 2 October 2007, in revised form 2 October 2008; published online 18 May 2009

Abstract. Terrestrial-passage theory proposes that the ‘moon’ and ‘sky’ illusions occur because observers learn to expect an elevation-dependent transformation of visual angle. The transformation accompanies daily movement through ordinary environments of fixed-altitude objects. Celestial objects display the same visual angle at all elevations, and hence are necessarily non-conforming with the ordinary transformation. On hypothesis, observers should target angular sizes to appear greater at elevation than at horizon. However, in a sample of forty-eight observers there was no significant difference between the perceived angular size of a constellation of stars at horizon and that predicted for a specific elevation. Occurrence of the illusion was not restricted to those observers who expected angular expansion. These findings fail to support the terrestrial-passage theory of the illusion.

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