sunlight takes 8 and a 1/2 minutes to reach earth.. so is it true that the position at which we see the sun now was actually the position of the sun 8 and 1/2 minutes before this...
2006-08-04 17:02:10 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The astronomical refraction is effective in affecting the true position of celestial bodies.
Even when a celestial body is below the horizon, refraction elevates it towards the horizon so that rising apparently takes place earlier.
Hence refraction accelerates the time of rising. Similarly it retards the time of setting.
Due to refraction the shape of the disc of the sun or full moon is oval (elliptical); it is more conspicuous at rising or at setting.
Regarding the time of light to reach from Sun to our earth, as you have stated it takes 499 seconds.
In that time let us calculate the displacement of sun during that time.
The sun moves westward approximately one degree per day.
I minute = 60 second.
Therefore 60 second per day; 2.5 second per hour. (0.04166 second per minute)
In 8.33 minute it will move toward west through 0.3 second.
Hence the refraction effect is more pronounced and speed effect is negligible.
2006-08-04 23:45:36 · answer #1 · answered by Pearlsawme 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually the sun is moving pretty damn fast. Most people in here are obviously thinking only of the position of the sun relative to our own solar system. However we are part of a Galaxy which is rotating as well and that galaxy is moving as a whole as well. So in 8 1/2 minutes, or whatever figure you want to use, the sun has moved quite a lot (So has the earth).
2006-08-04 18:29:22 · answer #2 · answered by Thirst Quencher 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It gets worse. Not only is the apparent position of the sun about eight minutes behind it's actual position, due to the effects of atmospheric distortion, we can NEVER know the exact position of the sun by looking up at it from the Earth. But the distortion is so small that it's unlikely it'll ever matter to the common observer.
2006-08-04 17:40:03 · answer #3 · answered by JKP 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's closer to 8 1/3 minutes.
The way I see it, where we see the sun right now is where it really is right now From Our Point Of View. That's all that matters for calculations anyway.
Relativity really messes up the concept of absolute time.
2006-08-04 17:06:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer is yes. As you get farther away from earth, the positions of stars is as they were years ago. And in the most distant galaxies, their positions are as they were near the beginning of the universe. By studying the composition and distribution of those distant galaxies, astronomers get information about the early universe.
2006-08-04 17:13:07 · answer #5 · answered by gp4rts 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is correct. but the sun dun move alot in 8.5 mins so it is not that much of a diff.
2006-08-04 18:07:01 · answer #6 · answered by ET 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. You are seeing its position as of 8.5 minutes ago.
2006-08-04 17:13:10 · answer #7 · answered by AF 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ummm. the sun moves very little in perspective so not really LOL.
2006-08-04 17:06:07 · answer #8 · answered by TommyTrouble 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
IT IS TRUE..BUT HTE ACTUAL POSITION VARIES VERY FRACTIONALLY..IT IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT EVEN LIGHT BENDS FRACTIONALLY DUE TO GRAVITY..AND AS THERE ARE PLANETS IN BETWEEN EARTH AND SUN..THE LIGHT BENDS AND WE TEND TO SEE SUN IN A VIRTUAL POSITION..
2006-08-05 01:40:16 · answer #9 · answered by shanky 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
u should prefer to some books on Einstein's relativity theory... anyway, it does look as it was 8 and a half mins ago.
2006-08-04 17:27:46 · answer #10 · answered by minhtung91 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋