A star appears slightly higher than its actual position when viewed near the horizon due to atmospheric refraction. As light from the star passes through the Earth's atmosphere, it bends due to the varying density of air layers, particularly near the horizon where the atmosphere is thicker. This bending causes the light to follow a curved path, making the star seem elevated above its true geometric position. This effect is more pronounced for objects near the horizon compared to those directly overhead.
Apparent shift refers to the perception of an object appearing to be in a different location than its actual position due to atmospheric refraction. This phenomenon commonly affects the visual observations of celestial objects near the horizon, causing them to appear slightly higher than they actually are. Astronomers and navigators need to account for apparent shift to make accurate measurements.
When its closest to the horizon.
This is called refraction and it is due to the bending of the ray of light from the star as it enters the atmosphere which has a changing refractive index at different heights. This effect occurs at all heights (angles) but is more noticeable close to the horizon and it alters the time of sunrise and sunset by a few minutes.
The Sun appears to rise 2 minutes late due to atmospheric refraction. Refraction bends light as it passes through the Earth's atmosphere, causing the Sun to appear slightly above the horizon before it actually reaches that point. This delay is why the Sun appears to rise later than its actual position.
The horizon. It is the apparent line that separates the Earth from the sky, and it is visible when looking out towards the distance.
the sun is at sunset that way so the horizon is a bit dark
The sun and moon appear elliptical near the horizon due to atmospheric refraction. This bending of light causes the celestial objects to look slightly flattened when they are closer to the horizon.
The effect is called "atmospheric refraction." It occurs when light rays passing through air at different temperatures are bent, causing objects to appear shifted from their actual position. This is why stars and the Sun can appear slightly higher in the sky than they actually are when near the horizon.
Eastern Horizon
Apparent shift refers to the perception of an object appearing to be in a different location than its actual position due to atmospheric refraction. This phenomenon commonly affects the visual observations of celestial objects near the horizon, causing them to appear slightly higher than they actually are. Astronomers and navigators need to account for apparent shift to make accurate measurements.
The horizon. It is a imaginary line where land and sky appear to meet.
Except during atmospheric conditions that are quite rare (sub-refraction, or negative refractivity gradient versus altitude), light ... as well as radio and other electromagnetic radiation ... generally bends downward on its way through air. So, when the light beam from the star reaches your eye, it's arriving from a direction that is slightly above the actual direction from the star, and the effect is that the star appears to be higher than it really is. If, instead of from a star, the light had started out from a palm tree, a pool of water, and a couple of camels, and had bent significantly downward on its way through the air, it would arrive at your eye from a direction significantly above the horizon, and you would see the mirage of an oasis in the sky.
the sun is visible to us about 2 minutes before the sunrise & about 2 minutes after actual sunset because of atmospheric refraction.By actual sunrise, we mean the actual crossing of the horizon by the sun. The time difference between actual sunset & the apparent sunset is about 2 minutes. The apparent flattening of the sun"s disc at sunrise & sunset is also due to the same phenomenon .
The frame of reference for the sunset is typically the observer's position on Earth. The changing position of the Earth as it rotates on its axis causes the sun to appear to set below the horizon.
A point on the horizon where parallel lines appear to meet is called the vanishing point.
It is too high in the sky, given it's position near the North Celestial Pole (the North Star), It appears to rotate around the North Star, and in midwestern American latitudes it never dips below the horizon.
The line where the sky and the earth or sea appear to meet is called the horizon.