How is this picture possible if the sun is 93 million miles from earth?

[PatriotOne]

So I was going through Mike Pence's twitter feed and ran across this picture he took and posted while flying to Orlando.
https://twitter.com/mike_pence/status/809889031467237376?lang=en

How is this possible if the sun is 93 million miles from earth? Does not make any sense to me. Anyone got an explanation before my brain short circuits?

 

[angelatc]

Earth is round.

 

[Jamesiv1]

I don't get it. What is the reason for your puzzlement?

 

[GunnyFreedom]

it looks to me like a cirrus layer is diffusing sunlight and projecting where it has the direct beam. The sun appears so large because you are seeing it near a size that you can actually identify. Then it makes sense in your mind how big the sun is. It looks the same size all alone up in the sky, you just don't have a planet to compare it to.

 

[GunnyFreedom]

If you are referring to what looks like a giant fireball surrounding the sun? the cirrus layer is not perfectly even, so the diffusion effect through the cloud will be textured.

 

[GunnyFreedom]

Those aren't mountains those are clouds. The sun is shining through them.

 

[GunnyFreedom]

Umm. I can't think of anything else.

What is it you think you are seeing here?

 

[PatriotOne]

It appears that the sun is in the layer of clouds ....and the clouds are even beyond the sun from Pences perspective.

 

[GunnyFreedom]

It appears that the sun is in the layer of clouds ....and the clouds are even beyond the sun from Pences perspective.

That's just because the indirect rays are getting diffused while the direct rays are getting lensed. It's water. Water does that.

 

[PatriotOne]

Those aren't mountains those are clouds. The sun is shining through them.

But he is above the clouds. Why would the sun shine peek from under the clouds from about 25,0000 feet?

 

[PatriotOne]

but that isn't indirect rays. It looks like the sun itself. Rays aren't round right?

 

[GunnyFreedom]

But he is above the clouds. Why would the sun shine peek from under the clouds from about 25,0000 feet?

Because the Earth is an oblate spheroid orbiting a star.

 

[GunnyFreedom]

but that isn't indirect rays. It looks like the sun itself. Rays aren't round right?

Are you kidding me right now? "Rays aren't round?" I was being nice to you.

 

[PatriotOne]

Are you kidding me right now? "Rays aren't round?" I was being nice to you.

When I think of sun rays peeking through clouds I'm thinking of this type of picture:

But Pence is above the clouds so I am confused.

 

[PatriotOne]

When I think of sun rays peeking through clouds I'm thinking of this type of picture:

But Pence is above the clouds so I am confused.

It just doesn't make sense to me if the sun is 93 million miles away. Not this pic but the Pence pic.

 

[GunnyFreedom]

The Earth is round, therefore he can be above the clouds and the sun below the cloud horizon. Because the Earth is round, and revolving in space. The sun sets and the sun rises, even when you are above the clouds. The sun will be coming out behind the clouds on the horizon, because the sun is on the horizon, and behind the clouds.

 

[Dr.3D]

It has to do with refraction.

 

[Suzanimal]

I'm going with Gunny on this.

 

[PatriotOne]

Because the Earth is an oblate spheroid orbiting a star.

I had to look up an oblate spheroid. That's the new theory? But Nasa's pictures of earth are round? Well now I'm even more confused...lol.

 

[PatriotOne]

The Earth is round, therefore he can be above the clouds and the sun below the cloud horizon. Because the Earth is round, and revolving in space. The sun sets and the sun rises, even when you are above the clouds. The sun will be coming out behind the clouds on the horizon, because the sun is on the horizon, and behind the clouds.

That part I could understand if it wasn't the clouds that appear to be beyond/behind the sun in the picture. I can't imagine those in the scenario above.