ChatterBank91 mins ago
Refraction in the atmosphere
Is it true that refraction of light entering the atmosphere gives us 5 -10 minutes extra of sunlight because the sun appears higher in the sky than it is?
cheers
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.The 'apparent' setting sun is over one sun diameter higher than it's actual position.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/atmos/redsun.html
I do not know how many minutes of time that equates to.
It takes approximately 2 minutes for the apparent position of the sun to move one sun's diameter.
That means that near the equator, where the sun sets going vertically downwards the day is only 2 minutes longer at each end of the day. At more polar latitudes, the setting sun is almost horizontal and the extension of daylight will be very much greater. There will be some places where the sun may never set, but would have if there had been no atmosphere.
That means that near the equator, where the sun sets going vertically downwards the day is only 2 minutes longer at each end of the day. At more polar latitudes, the setting sun is almost horizontal and the extension of daylight will be very much greater. There will be some places where the sun may never set, but would have if there had been no atmosphere.