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It's because of refraction. when we look at the sun at the time it's straight to the horizon, just above some height(for eg: a hill or a mountain), the air above that height is more denser. So when the ray of light coming from the base of the sun passes through that particular height, the ray gets refracted towards the normal and away from the normal respectively. This is why the sun looks flattened near the horizon.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoBecause when the light of the Sun travels through the air, it will be a little refracted.
This effect is more obvious around sunset because the light has to travel through more air than usual.
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The sun and moon appear elliptical near the horizon due to?
refraction
Why does the sun appear larger when it is rising or setting?
The Sun only appears larger near the horizon, but when its apparent size is measured accurately it isn't actually bigger. It's just that near the horizon your eye has distant objects to compare it with, so it looks bigger.
Why sun appears oval at sunrise and sunset but appears circular at noon?
At sunrise and sunset the sun is near the horizon. The rays of light from upper & lower part of the periphery of the sun bend unequally on travelling through earth's atmosphere. That is why sun appear oval or flattened at sunrise and sunset. At noon sun is overhead. The rays of light from the sun enter earth's atmosphere normally. Therefore they suffer no refraction or bending on passing through. Hence the sun appears circular at noon.
On which horizon does the sun set?
The western horizon.
Why the sun at noon look small?
When the sun (or moon) is high in the sky there are no objects of known size to compare the sun (or moon) to. But whan the sun is low in the sky you can see far off objects near the horizon that you know ar big and you imagine that the sun is even bigger (it is!) The apparent change in size is an optical illusion.
The sun and moon appear elliptical near the horizon due to?
refraction
Why does the sun look larger than its been in the last 40 plus years?
I don't really think this is the case. There is a psychological effect that makes the Sun, or Moon, look larger when they are near the horizon; perhaps you happened to see it there.
Are the sun and moon larger when at the horizon?
No, they just look larger.
Why does sun look bigger in size when raising and setting?
It all about the vision we see , when we see something near the horizon it always looks bigger when compared to viewing it when it is higher in the sky.
Why does the sun appear larger when it is rising or setting?
The Sun only appears larger near the horizon, but when its apparent size is measured accurately it isn't actually bigger. It's just that near the horizon your eye has distant objects to compare it with, so it looks bigger.
Why sun appears oval at sunrise and sunset but appears circular at noon?
At sunrise and sunset the sun is near the horizon. The rays of light from upper & lower part of the periphery of the sun bend unequally on travelling through earth's atmosphere. That is why sun appear oval or flattened at sunrise and sunset. At noon sun is overhead. The rays of light from the sun enter earth's atmosphere normally. Therefore they suffer no refraction or bending on passing through. Hence the sun appears circular at noon.
On which horizon does the sun set?
The western horizon.
On which horizon does the sun appear?
Eastern Horizon
Why the sun at noon look small?
When the sun (or moon) is high in the sky there are no objects of known size to compare the sun (or moon) to. But whan the sun is low in the sky you can see far off objects near the horizon that you know ar big and you imagine that the sun is even bigger (it is!) The apparent change in size is an optical illusion.
How long does the sun need to rise?
425000meters long
Is the sun below the northern horizon or the southern horizon at midnight in the Northern Hemisphere?
The sun is below the northern horizon at midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.
Is sunset when suns bottom touches the horizon or the suns top disappears on the horizon?
Sunset occurs when the top edge of the sun disappears below the horizon. The moment when the bottom of the sun touches the horizon is known as "solar immersion."
