Page 4 Advertisements Column 2

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12717, 12 August 1919, Page 4

Is the sun higher when on the horizon? Tt looks it, but is it? The P'.-plmotion often given is this: That during the day, when the sun is high, nothing is near it to compare it with in distance, and' we think it is small; hnt when we see it on the horizon with houses and trees and church spires in+Arv» v T'in<r. wo heheve it to he large. Is this true? It is not- To prove it, look nt the moon from behind a fare or f”om h^Mpd- 1 a hush. It will appear not a whit larger. The ran] explanation of the sun’s apparent dilation is t l ’is: The sun is enlarged at sunset because the air magnifies it. Of course, the air is in a condition to mu-, nifv objects all dav. But when the sun stands high we look nn through only a thiu hirer o? air, whereas at sundown opr eyes have to pierce the entire depth of the atmosphere—multiplied at least sixteen times. This accounts for the enlargement of the gun. Dust and heated air appear to he the enures of the magnification. Thus the phonomenon is more noticeable ip summer and autumn, our dusty seasons.