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You are here: Home / Science / Why does the sun look so big at sunset and yet small at other times?

Why does the sun look so big at sunset and yet small at other times?

March 3, 2020 by Karen Hill

The Sun’s apparent size at different times of the day is a matter of comparison.

At sunset the sun is usually positioned near Earth’s horizon instead of directly up in the sky. The mind unconsciously compares its size to the size of the objects nearby.

Next to trees, houses, roads, or buildings, it looks huge. Next to blue sky and clouds, it looks smaller. Believe it or not, the sun is actually over 3,700 miles closer to Earth at noon than it is when it’s setting.

When compared to the total distance that separates Earth from the sun, however, 3,700 miles just isn’t that big of a deal.

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Filed Under: Science

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « What’s the difference between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse?
Next Post: What is the biggest planet in the solar system? »

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