The moon illusion is best explained by:

Correct option is C

The moon illusion, where the moon appears larger near the horizon than when high in the sky, is best explained by size-distance scaling. This perceptual phenomenon occurs because our brain interprets the moon near the horizon as being farther away due to intervening objects and terrain, but since the retinal image size remains constant, the brain scales up the perceived size to compensate for the assumed greater distance.

Information Booster:
• Size-distance scaling involves the brain's automatic adjustment of perceived size based on distance cues
• The moon's actual size and distance remain constant, only perception changes
• Horizon moon appears larger because terrain provides distance cues suggesting it's farther away
• This demonstrates the brain's active role in interpreting visual information
• The illusion shows how constancy mechanisms can sometimes create perceptual errors
• Size-distance scaling is fundamental to maintaining size constancy in normal vision

Additional Knowledge:
• Option 1: Linear perspective involves parallel lines converging, not relevant to moon perception
• Option 2: Atmospheric perspective relates to haze and clarity affecting distance perception, but doesn't explain the size change
• Option 4: Retinal disparity is about binocular depth perception, irrelevant for distant objects like the moon