Can you just define what is a Sunset according to you(Maybe we should have done this first)
My definition of a Sunset, when the Sky turns Red and then transitions into darkness. If you are by the beach, you would see it slowly sink into the horizon until darkness engulf the scene. There, Simple? Just plain, simple, external observation.
The US Naval Observatory: "Sunrise and sunset conventionally refer to the times when the upper edge of the disk of the Sun is on the horizon. Atmospheric conditions are assumed to be average, and the location is in a level region on the Earth's surface."
By this definition, a prayer at sunset or sunrise must be performed *precisely* at the moment the sun's upper edge is on the horizon. Anything else is late or early, depending. Note, however, that to take refraction into account, you would have to begin the evening prayer when the sun's *bottom* edge is on the horizon; the timing of the morning prayer would always have to be a guess.
The question I asked was fairly simple, can you see the Sunset or not(the process of a Sunset)? It's like asking whether you can see what the TV is projecting real or not but then someone comes in explaining that in actual fact the pixels are the ones generating the pictures.
Simple question, complex answer. Think of it this way: When you are looking at the sunset, you are actually looking around a corner at something that has already passed by.
To demonstrate refraction, fill a clear glass with water and drop an unsharpened pencil into it, so that part of the pencil is above the surface. Examine from all sides, then answer the question, Where is that part of the pencil that is under water?
you can tell by the sign that the sun is setting and like normal people we call that a sunset BUT you believe that that's not actually a Sunset or that's not really one because the Sun actually already goes over the horizon and what we are seeing is refraction yes?
Yes.
Here's more from the USNO: "Accuracy of rise/set computations. The times of rise and set phenomena cannot be precisely computed, because, in practice, the actual times depend on unpredictable atmospheric conditions that affect the amount of refraction at the horizon. Thus, even under ideal conditions (e.g., a clear sky at sea) the times computed for rise or set may be in error by a minute or more. Local topography (e.g., mountains on the horizon) and the height of the observer can affect the times of rise or set even more. It is not practical to attempt to include such effects in routine rise/set computations."
Next paragraph:
"The accuracy of rise and set computations decreases at high latitudes. There, small variations in atmospheric refraction can change the time of rise or set by many minutes, since the Sun and Moon intersect the horizon at a very shallow angle. For the same reason, at high latitudes, the effects of observer height and local topography are magnified and can substantially change the times of the phenomena actually observed, or even whether the phenomena are observed to occur at all."
Even precise measurements, therefore, cannot tell you the exact times of sunset and sunrise.
Why the emphasis? Science always changes, you might think you could be right but then again you might be wrong later on.
First, I wasn't emphasizing, I was quoting.
You're right about science self-correcting as new facts come to light. However, it also gives answers according to what we know at the time, and requires evidence of error before changing those answers. If there is no evidence of error, especially where the current theory accounts for all known observations, there is no reason to question or alter the current theory.
There's no going back, you have piqued my interest on Astronomy.
Then my work here is done. [emoji1]
However, back to my questions. Since the timing of sunset and sunrise is so vague, why should the OP be worried about being precise? There are times when honest error can be catastrophic, but is this one of them?
BTW, I think my question is apt, since Islam is commonly credited with practicing and preserving the sciences, astronomy among them. I'm just curious whether and how Islam has kept up with progress in this particular field.
