Why does the sun always look bigger in other countries?

Question

I'm thinking, is it because it's closer to the equator? Also my mate came back from the Canary Islands once back in October and the weather over there was only around 26c but he came back very brown like it was closer to 40c. Is it something to do with the sun being closer even though it's not as hot?

When I go on holiday, I also notice that when the sun is setting, it looks far bigger than it does when it sets back in England.

Answer 1

I think it's purely an optical illusion. The sun is so far away from us that your position on earth has no effect on the size of the sun in the sky. Both the moon and the sun look bigger at the horizon due to our judgement of perspective in relation to the moon and the sun.

By the way, temperature has nothing to do with getting a sun tan - the exposure to sun's rays does. You can get suntanned at freezing temperatures, as a matter of fact. Your friend simply cought more sun on the Canaries than here in the UK.

Answer 2

Location and Axis of the planet...