Astronomy

A sunset bent by the air

Lower the Sun toward the horizon. Compare its geometric and refracted positions, flattening and the effect of atmospheric turbulence.

By Mykhailo Makarov

Actual application image

The model and its limits

Bennett optical refraction with pressure and temperature scaling, and seeing FWHM = 0.98 λ/r₀ at 500 nm. The turbulent ripple is amplified 50 times. Dispersion is illustrative; no weather forecast or detailed green-flash ray tracing.

Equations used in the module

Equations
R = (P/1010)[283/(273+T)] 1.02/tan[h+10.3/(h+5.11)] arcmin; seeing = 0.98λ/r₀.

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