You know it’s a trick

The question that accompanies this morning’s Astronomy Picture of the Day is obviously a trick: “Are square A and B the same color?” Your immediate response, after seeing the endless trick illusions like “Which stick is longer?” (obviously the one that looks shorter) or “Which circle is bigger?” (the small one, of course) is, reluctantly, Yes. What does this have to do with astronomy? Just that what appears to the eye-brain combo to be a certain way is not necessarily true. You have to use non-subjective instruments to make sure that what you’re seeing isn’t necessarily what it appears to be. Here’s the proof of a Yes answer to the above question.

Here’s my entry into the trick-illusion-question parade: Can a saw cut gone bad be overcome so the tabletop still looks round? Answer: We’ll see.

Credit: Wikipedia via Astronomy Picture of the Day