The illusion of the large sun or moon near the horizon (vs in the 'dome of sky' above has to do with the human field of sight.
at the horizion, the moon looks larger (compaired to trees, building, and even in comparision to the horizontal fielf of vision.
in the dome of sky above, with no distractions, we see it (the moon) for what it is, a scant 5° of the 180° (more or less) that the dome of sky is.
as a NYC dweller, i love the moon--its bright enough not to be faded by ambient light (venus and several of the planets are visible too,) but all but the brightest star are impossible to see. i now live 10 miles closer to manhattan, and see fewer constillation now in my more urban digs, then i saw in my more suburban neighborhood.
and no, not battle hymn of the republic, but to stars and stripes forever (sousa) but i did used to know several kids song that were sung to the Battle hymn--(including "john brown's body lies a molding in the grave")
