Here's how it works:
* Refraction: Light bends as it passes through different mediums (like air and space). When the sun is near the horizon, its light has to travel through a larger amount of air at an angle.
* Bending: This bending of light makes the sun appear higher in the sky than it actually is.
* Apparent Size: Because the sun appears higher, its light rays are spread out over a larger area, making it seem larger.
In contrast, at noon:
* The sun is directly overhead, so its light travels through less air and is bent less.
* This results in a less distorted view of the sun, making it appear smaller.
It's important to note: The sun's actual size doesn't change. The illusion of it being bigger at sunrise and sunset is a result of how light behaves in the atmosphere.
