Why does the sun look like it is dipping down into and rising out from the Earth’s surface when it’s viewed from a plane?

Question

I notice that the sun, and sometimes the moon when setting, it seems to be sinking down into the Earth’s surface.

It happens when you travel over 30,000 ft in the air; that illusion doesn’t happen then you are lower.

It’s obvious the Earth isn’t flat; moon and sun are in space, so what causes that illusion?

In: 0

Answer 1

The sun is very far away from earth. When the earth is rotating, the sun appears to move behind the earth because your point of view is being blocked by the earth.

Example: lift your hand above your computer monitor, then slowly move your hand behind the monitor. Your hand will disappear as it moves behind the monitor.