2006-08-22 04:36:22 · 7 answers · asked by G R 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The sun appears larger when it is lower in the sky, just as the moon does, due to an optical illusion. Closer to the horizon, the sun is seen next to houses and trees, and it looks large compared to them. Since we know that houses and trees are large, the sun looks quite large. Higher in the sky, the sun takes up the same angular portion of our field of vision, but we have no references to gauge its apparent size.
2006-08-22 04:45:23 · answer #1 · answered by DavidK93 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The lensing effect of the earth's atmosphere enlarges the sun's image at the horizon. The effect occurs because the image travels through a greater portion of the earth's atmosphere at the horizon, than just above it. The change is the air's density is distributed in a curve just near the horizon and this creates a virtual magnifying lens. When the sun or moon is overhead, there is so no longer any meaningful change in density through which the light passes, so it appears relatively smaller.
You can see the impact of changing atmospheric density by looking at the stars at night. Stars twinkle because changes in earth's atmosphere occurring between you and the light bend it in different directions.
2006-08-22 05:30:37 · answer #2 · answered by Isotope235 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. I agree about the quality of these answers, but does everyone know that the sun sets minutes before we actually see it go below the horizon? No, not the time it takes light to reach us from the sun (8 minutes or so) but because the atmosphere refracts the light.
2006-08-22 09:11:28 · answer #3 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is totally an optical illusion. You perceive it to look bigger because of the objects you see it next to. Here is how to check it out. Get a ruler. At sunrise/sunset or moonrise/moonset go outside and mark a spot on the ground to stand. Hold the ruler at arms lenght and note the size of the object (sun/moon) in the sky. (this is a lot easier with the moon - the sun gets kind of bright...) Go out a couple of hours later and stand in the same spot. Measure again the same way. Get really freaked out that the measurements are the same.
2006-08-22 05:40:48 · answer #4 · answered by Coffeefreek 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My wager might want to be the wave length allowed through the ambience at your attitude of view. ROYGBIV (pink, orange, yellow, eco-friendly, indigo, violet) is what mild is created from. So it would want to likely ought to do with mild refraction.
2016-11-26 23:01:48 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i wont even try to get 10 pts, too many good answer here already
2006-08-22 06:33:11 · answer #6 · answered by Man 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because, relative to other stars, it's very close to us.
2006-08-22 04:45:07 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋