28 September 2012

Sun's Angualr size as seen from different planetary distances



When we look at the sun, we always wonder how big it would appear looking at it from different planets. I have made this Image to show the relative size of Sun as seen from different planetary distances (scroll down after the table). The angular size of Sun with respect to distance is easy to calculate. Divide diameter of Sun by its distance form earth and then multiply the result by 57.3 to get the angular size of sun. Using this we can get angular size of Sun from different planets...

Angular size = diameter/distance * 57.3

Diameter of Sun = 1391000km
Distance from Earth = 150000000km

Angular size = 1391000/150000000

= 0.0092 * 57.3

Angular size of Sun as seen from earth = 0.531degrees.

We can calculate and compare the relative angular size of Sun seen from different planetary distances.

Sun Diameter = 1391000 kilometers
Planets
Distance from Sun 
(when planet is closest to sun)
Angular diameter(in degrees)
Mercury
46000000
1.73
Venus
107000000
0.74
Earth
150000000 (mean distance)
0.53
Mars
206000000
0.38
Jupiter
740000000
0.10
Saturn
1352000000
0.05
Uranus
2741000000
0.029
Neptune
4444000000
0.017

Here is the a graphic of sun's appearance at different distances...




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