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Author Topic: Sunsets  (Read 1402 times)

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Offline Scunner

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Sunsets
« on: October 13, 2012, 22:35:59 PM »
When you see the bottom of the setting sun touch the sea on the horizon, it has already disappeared from sight.

Mad, but true.
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Offline Highlander

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Re: Sunsets
« Reply #1 on: October 13, 2012, 22:59:46 PM »
I just know I will regret this but would you care to elaborate.
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Offline Scunner

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Re: Sunsets
« Reply #2 on: October 13, 2012, 23:03:50 PM »
No
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Offline Pompeylil

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Re: Sunsets
« Reply #3 on: October 13, 2012, 23:04:35 PM »
too difficult for me - explain please
How can it have disappeared if you can still see it ?
Simple explanations please
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Offline Scunner

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Re: Sunsets
« Reply #4 on: October 13, 2012, 23:06:34 PM »
I don't know
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Offline Stan

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Re: Sunsets
« Reply #5 on: October 14, 2012, 08:26:08 AM »
We need a picture of this !   ;)
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Offline Colwyn

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Re: Sunsets
« Reply #6 on: October 14, 2012, 09:51:34 AM »
It may be that  what happens is the that, at sunset, the sun is below the horizon but that light from it is bent as it travels around the earth's curve so it is still visible to us. Light bending is a familiar enough phenomenon producing mirages on hot summer days.


P.S. Having made the wild guess above I then searched for the answer and that nice Mr Stephen Fry explained it exactly as I said. God, I feel smug now.


http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2011/11/20/sunsets-are-quite-interesting/
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