Monday Morning's (4/27) Massive Magic Valley Moon Was Marvelous

If you live in the Magic Valley and were up early enough Monday morning (April 27) you might have noticed something very bright, and very massive shining like a beacon over Twin Falls.

I've seen some impressive moon displays in all my years on this planet, but Monday morning's image stood out like a science fiction film prop. It hung in the sky and tricked my brain into thinking it was much closer than it actually is.

This year has been a big one for Earth-moon relations. Artemis 2 recently took a team of four astronauts around the moon and back, which amounted to more than 252,000 miles into outer space, a new distance record for space travel. Monday morning's moon appeared as if someone really did toss a lasso around it and pulled it toward southern Idaho.

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Twin Falls Had Front Row Seats To What Appeared Like A Larger-Than-Life Moon Monday Morning

Moon shines over Turf Plaza, Twin Falls, ID April 27, 2026 4:30A.M. Credit: Greg Jannetta

Moon visible from Park Ave, Twin Falls 4:30A.M. April 27, 2026 Credit: Greg Jannetta

The appearance of the moon in such close proximity is known as the "moon illusion."

"The Moon's seeming bigness is an actual illusion, rather than an effect of our atmosphere or some other physics," according to nasa.gov.

Illusion or not, it was pretty spectacular to witness it on my way into the office just after 4 A.M. Hopefully, you got the chance to see it.

Places To Get Really High Around Twin Falls

Since marijuana is still illegal in Idaho, you can’t legally walk down the street and get high, but there's another way to get high around Twin Falls that is much more socially acceptable.

Gallery Credit: Credit Nate Bird