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This is an optical illusion caused by the fact that the sun's rays are passing through the atmosphere at a low angle - hence they pass through a lot more atmosphere relative to when it is high in the sky.

The atmosphere of the earth not only being full of contaminants which tend to disperse the light (the same reason why you see the beam of a torch) but it also can refract and bend the rays due to it being a more dense medium than space.

Combined these have the effect of making the sun appear larger, often a darker hue, and the flattening you see when it rises/sets.

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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.


Is sunrise a noun?

Yes, the word 'sunrise' is a noun, a singular, common, compound, concrete noun; a word for the first appearance of the sun in the sky each morning; the appearance of the sky when the sun first appears in the morning.


When does the sun appear at its highest and lowest point?

The sun appears at its highest point around midday, when it reaches its highest position in the sky. The sun appears at its lowest point during sunrise and sunset, when it is closest to the horizon.


How are sunrise and sunset alike?

Sunrise and sunset are both phenomena where the sun appears to rise and set on the horizon. They mark the beginning and end of the daylight portion of the day, transitioning between day and night. Both are caused by the Earth's rotation on its axis, creating the visual effect of the sun moving across the sky.


What is the main color for the sun?

The main color of the sun is white, which is a combination of all the colors of the visible spectrum. At sunrise and sunset, the sun's light appears more yellow or orange due to the scattering of shorter wavelengths by the Earth's atmosphere.

Related Questions

What is Sunrise?

Sunrise refers to the time in the morning when the sun appears.


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.


Is sunrise in the the morning or in the night?

Sunrise is when the sun appears to rise up from below the horizon (in the morning).


When is the sun in the shape of a semicircle?

Sunset or sunrise.


Is sunrise one word?

Yes, "sunrise" is one word when referring to the time of day when the sun appears above the horizon.


Is sunrise a noun?

Yes, the word 'sunrise' is a noun, a singular, common, compound, concrete noun; a word for the first appearance of the sun in the sky each morning; the appearance of the sky when the sun first appears in the morning.


Is sunrise determined when the sun is fully visible at the horizon?

Yes, sunrise is defined as the moment when the upper limb of the sun first appears above the horizon in the morning. This marks the beginning of daylight.


When does the sun appear at its highest and lowest point?

The sun appears at its highest point around midday, when it reaches its highest position in the sky. The sun appears at its lowest point during sunrise and sunset, when it is closest to the horizon.


Does smoke make the sun appear red?

No, smoke does not make the sun appear red. The sun appears red during sunrise and sunset due to the scattering of light in the Earth's atmosphere.


How do you tell when it is sunrise and sunset?

Generally, if it is dark outside and it gets lighter, the Sun is rising. If it's bright outside and then it gets dark, that was sunset. Officially, "sunrise" is when the upper limb of the Sun comes into view on the horizon, and "sunset" is when the upper limb of the Sun disappears behind the horizon.


How are sunrise and sunset alike?

Sunrise and sunset are both phenomena where the sun appears to rise and set on the horizon. They mark the beginning and end of the daylight portion of the day, transitioning between day and night. Both are caused by the Earth's rotation on its axis, creating the visual effect of the sun moving across the sky.


Why does sun appear flat during sunrise and sunset?

The sun rays have to travel through a larger atmospheric distance. Most of the blue light and shorter wave lengths are removed by scattering . Only red colour,which is least scatterd is received by our eyes and appear to come from sun .Hence the appearance of sun at sunset or sunrise looks almost flat .lovenish