Why does the rising Sun look so big?
Good day Sir I am living in South Africa. I have a 7year old son who has asked me a very interesting question, which I could not answer for him, with regards to astronomy. The question that he put forward to me was this: “Why when the sun is coming up, does it look so big on the horizon?”. If you could please help me with an answer, it would really be appreciated. Reply Dear Kyle Your son’s question has been asked many times before, usually about the Moon, not the Sun (the Sun is too dazzling to look at, especially when high in the sky). No one is sure of the reason, but it might be an optical illusion–our brain makes us believe objects near the horizon are larger than when they are high in the sky. Show your son the web site “Why Does the Moon Look So Big on the Horizon?” by Kathy Wollard, at: http://www.word-detective.com/howcome/moonlookbig.html Sincerely David P. Stern 157. Drawing a perpendicular line in rectangular coordinates Dear Dr. Stern As you said any triangle can be forme
