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.
Related Posts
-
How Did the Sun Dance Begin In Blackfoot Mythology and Why Did Sun Teach Poia the Sun Dance?
Feather woman's son, Poia, grew up with a large scar on his head. The other children made fun of it and made him an outcast. When Poia became a young man, he asked…
-
What Kind of Star Is the Sun, What Is the Temperature of the Surface of the Sun, and How Was the Sun Formed?
The star nearest to us, the Sun, is a mature star. It is classified as a red dwarf. In terms of spectral class, it is a G2V star. G2 indicates its surface temperature…
-
Why is the sky blue and why is a sunset red when air is colorless?
The sun emits light waves in all colors of the spectrum, with the wavelengths of each color vibrating at different rates. The reds and yellows have a long wavelength. Since they're traveling in…
-
Why Is the Sky Blue On a Clear Day and How Does Rayleigh Scattering Cause the Red Colors At Sunset?
The sky is blue on a clear day because of a process called Rayleigh scattering. Light arriving from the sun hits the molecules in the air and is scattered in all directions. The…
-
How Does the Earth’s Rotation Around the Sun Cause the Stars to Rise and Set At Different Times Every Night?
You may notice that when you are stargazing in your yard at 10:00 every night, the stars appear slightly to the west of where they were the night before. Stars rise 4 minutes…
-
Who Are the Ten Avatars of Vishnu In Hindu Mythology and Which Avatar Has Not Yet Appeared?
As the protector of the world in Hindu mythology, Vishnu has appeared nine times, so far, to save humankind from evil and disaster. These appearances on earth in human form are called avatars.…
