Why does the sun appear larger at sun(rise and set) than at the middle of the day when it is closer?

Answer 1

No, no magnifying, no fisheye lense effect, not of this.

The sun (and the moon) seem larger at rise and at set because, up in the "wide open sky, there are no visual refrents near the object to compare. It is simply a round object on a huge backdrop of nothing. On the other hand, as the sun rises or sets, your eyes compare the sun to the mountains, the trees, maybe even houses on the horizon. Your perception can give it a comparative size.

Answer 2

If you watch the moon it will also exhibit these same characteristics, also notice that the sun and moon appear more reddish at rise and set. This has to do with the diffraction of light as is passes through our atmosphere. By passing though more atmosphere the diffusion of light increases resulting in a larger image.

The same atmospheric phenomena explain why we have such colorful sun rise and sets. The sky is blue because of frequencies that atmosphere reflects and passes. The atmosphere diffuses and absorbs UV and higher energy light, thus the sky appears blue as the diffused reflects back to earth, lower energy light moving toward red and infrared, passes though the atmosphere and thus is most apparent at sun rise and sunset when all the higher energy colors like blue are filtered out leaving the deep orange and reds. purple is a result of partial mixes between the blue reflection and the passing reds.

Answer 3

Because of the convex curve of the earth's atmosphere. When the sun is at high noon, there is less air, or in effect less magnifying glass. The distance the sun is closer when at high noon is relatively so small, it's insignificant, in context to this matter. It works the same way for the moon. Except the moon's difference is a little more significantly changed.

Anyone who says there is no magnifying glass effect was never a sailor. If you are out on the ocean, there are no earthbound objects to compare it too. If you were to use a sextant, you can obviously see a tremendous difference in the apparent size of the sun and moon. I think people shouldn't say things like that unless they've done something as simple as holding their thumb up in the sky to the sun.

Answer 4

the gap from the earth to the moon maintains to be incredibly consistent. with the aid of fact the earth follows an elliptical direction around the sunlight, the gap between the sunlight and the earth will variety. in spite of the fact that, the attitude at which you be conscious the moon and sunlight adjustments in the process the day. interior the morning and nighttime, inspite of the component to the moon, the attitude of remark is far less and as such, you're in reality looking by extra environment (i.e., a thicker lense). the ambience acts like a magnifying glass, increasing the visual charm of the products interior the morning and nighttime. And, besides the undeniable fact that there is a distinction interior the thickness of the ambience on the equator and on the poles (thicker on the equator), it rather is the viewing attitude that motives concept. i'm hoping this solutions your question.

Answer 5

I enjoyed a beautiful full moon Friday night as it rose just after sunset. It started with a reddish hue and resolved to a delicious buttermilk tone an hour later. It looked huge against the backdrop of trees and the width of the road ahead, and "normal" later.

On other occasions, I've seen it look almost grotesquely huge and misshapen at the horizon. My sense is that when there is a lot of pollution or water vapor, there is magnification. I agree with others that the principal visual effect comes from comparing the relative size of the orb and earthbound objects.

Answer 6

When the sun is on the horizon its rays must pass through more of the earths atmosphere causing them to be more dispersed. Because the sun rays are spread out more, it makes the object appear larger than when directly overhead.

Answer 7

it's due to the atmosphere. the atmosphere acts like a magnifying glass. as the sun gets closer to the horizon the atmosphere in relation to our view of the sun is thicker therefore it magnifies the vision. its the same with the moon

Answer 8

Because the atmosphere acts like a magnifying glass. As you look straight up, there isn't any bending of the light, since it is coming straight through the air, rather than through the gradient of thickness when it comes at you sideways.

Answer 9

Don't believe the magnifying glass theorists.

It's a relative size issue.

Answer 10

i think it has to do with the fisheye lense effect, but the lense is the atmosphere in this case