2007-09-20 04:03:37 · 9 answers · asked by Andromeda 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
yes
2007-09-20 04:08:01 · answer #1 · answered by Grand Phuba 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The horizon, to an observer on the surface, would appear 'flat'. (Horizontal, the word, is based on that fact).
What would be different is that it would appear closer to the observer standing on an object with a smaller radius.
On the earth, a person standing on a beach, would see a horizon that is a bit over four miles away. On Pluto, it could be under a mile, (this is an estimate as I did not do a full calculation. It is based on the 1/5 diameter of Pluto, but a bit of geometry may give a bit different answer)
2007-09-20 14:15:21 · answer #2 · answered by thole pin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No The horizon on Pluto would not appear more curved than on Earth.
To me standing on top of the Earth the horizon appears flat. On Pluto, whose diameter is not much less than that of our moon. The horizon would still appear flat. In the extreme case, when I stand on a basket ball ... Consider a world 1 km diameter, perhaps then the curvature will be noticed.
Notice also the word "appear" in the question. That means no instruments or photographic evidence
2007-09-20 11:35:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe from orbit, but definitely NOT, if you're standing on the surface. It is technically true that it would be slightly more curved, but the difference is much too small for you to notice.
Let's say your height is 6 feet. On earth, the horizon dips below the horizontal by 0.04 degrees. On Pluto, the horizon dips below the horizonal by 0.1 degrees. Both of these are essentially "eye level."
The distance to the horizon would be about 1.3 miles, as compared to about 3 miles on earth. I don't know if that counts as "startingly close" or not.
2007-09-20 11:27:09 · answer #4 · answered by RickB 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it would. Pluto is about 1500 miles in diameter; our moon is about 2000. The Apollo astronauts reported that the moon's horizon was closer than Earth's, and that the curvature was noticeable (they said it was visually ovbious they were standing on a ball). Since Pluto is even smaller than the moon, it stands to reason that its curvature would be at least as noticeable, if not more.
2007-09-20 11:58:29 · answer #5 · answered by alan_has_bean 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, the smaller the planet, the more curved the horizon will look.
Imagine the extreme case, standing on a basketball sized planet you could see the entire circle of the planet.
2007-09-20 11:07:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, just look at pictures taken from the moon for an example.
2007-09-20 11:08:10 · answer #7 · answered by Doug 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
curved.... I don't think you'd be able to see the curve, but the horizon itself would be startlingly close.
2007-09-20 11:17:55 · answer #8 · answered by quantumclaustrophobe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yup!
2007-09-20 11:08:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋