1. What is Horizon Height?

Horizon height is the vertical distance obscured by the curvature of the Earth at a given distance from the observer. It represents how much of a distant object is hidden below the horizon due to Earth's curvature.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the horizon height formula:

Where:

• \( h \) — Horizon height (meters)
• \( d \) — Distance from observer (meters)
• \( R \) — Earth's radius (6,371,000 meters by default)

Explanation: The formula approximates how much of a distant object is hidden by Earth's curvature based on the distance and Earth's radius.

3. Importance of Horizon Height Calculation

Details: Calculating horizon height is important for navigation, astronomy, photography, and understanding how Earth's curvature affects visibility over long distances.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter distance in meters and Earth's radius in meters (default is 6,371,000 m). All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why does Earth's curvature matter?
A: Earth's curvature affects how far we can see and how much of distant objects are hidden, important for navigation and observation.

Q2: How accurate is this formula?
A: It's a good approximation for most purposes, but doesn't account for atmospheric refraction which can extend visibility.

Q3: What's a typical horizon height?
A: For example, at 10 km distance, about 7.8 meters of height is hidden by curvature.

Q4: Does observer height affect this?
A: Observer height affects how far you can see (distance to horizon), but this formula calculates how much is hidden at a given distance.

Q5: Can I use this for other planets?
A: Yes, just change the radius value to match the planet you're calculating for.