Horizon
Horizon
A horizon is the apparent line that separates the Earth from the sky. It is the line that divides all visible directions into two categories: those that intersect the Earth's surface, and those that do not. The true horizon is actually a theoretical line, which can only be observed when it lies on the same plane as the observer's eyes.
Types of Horizons[edit | edit source]
There are several types of horizons, including:
- True Horizon: The line that would be seen if there were no obstructions such as buildings, trees, or mountains.
- Apparent Horizon: The line that is visible to the observer, which may be obstructed by natural or man-made objects.
- Sea Horizon: The line where the sea surface appears to meet the sky.
- Astronomical Horizon: The great circle on the celestial sphere whose plane passes through the center of the Earth and is parallel to the observer's horizon.
Factors Affecting the Horizon[edit | edit source]
Several factors can affect the appearance and position of the horizon:
- Altitude: The higher the observer's altitude, the further away the horizon appears.
- Refraction: The bending of light as it passes through the Earth's atmosphere can cause the horizon to appear slightly higher than it actually is.
- Obstructions: Natural and man-made objects can obstruct the view of the true horizon, creating an apparent horizon.
Horizon in Different Contexts[edit | edit source]
The concept of the horizon is used in various fields:
- In astronomy, the horizon is used to define the position of celestial objects.
- In navigation, the horizon is crucial for determining the observer's position and for celestial navigation.
- In photography, the horizon is an important element in composition, often used to create a sense of balance and perspective.
Horizon in Culture[edit | edit source]
The horizon has significant cultural and symbolic meanings in various societies. It often represents the boundary between the known and the unknown, the attainable and the unattainable, or the beginning of a journey.
See Also[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD