1. What is the Horizon Line of Sight Formula?

The Horizon Line of Sight formula calculates the maximum distance at which an object can be seen from a given height above the Earth's surface, taking into account the Earth's curvature.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the LOS formula:

Where:

• \( h \) — Height above ground level (meters)
• \( R \) — Earth's radius (kilometers)

Explanation: The formula calculates the straight-line distance to the horizon, accounting for the Earth's curvature and the observer's height.

3. Importance of LOS Calculation

Details: Horizon line of sight calculations are crucial for navigation, telecommunications, astronomy, and determining visibility ranges for various applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter height in meters and Earth's radius in kilometers. Standard Earth radius is approximately 6371 km. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the standard Earth radius value?
A: The standard Earth radius is approximately 6371 kilometers, though the actual value varies slightly due to Earth's oblate spheroid shape.

Q2: Does this formula account for atmospheric refraction?
A: No, this is the geometric calculation. Actual visible horizon may be slightly farther due to atmospheric refraction effects.

Q3: Can this be used for other planets?
A: Yes, by substituting the appropriate planetary radius value for R in the formula.

Q4: What are typical height values for calculation?
A: Height can range from eye-level observations (≈1.7m) to mountain peaks or tall structures (hundreds or thousands of meters).

Q5: How accurate is this formula?
A: The formula provides a good geometric approximation for horizon distance calculations, though atmospheric conditions can affect actual visibility.