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physical phenomena > process > physical process > optical process > radiation modification > radiation direction modification > refraction |
refraction comparison table |
Subject | changes property | obey | is a kind of | has domain | has definition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
astronomical refraction | direction | Snell's law | refraction | optics | The change in direction of travel (bending) of a light ray as it passes obliquely through the atmosphere. As a result of refraction, the observed altitude of a celestial object is greater than its geometric altitude. The amount of refraction depends on the altitude of the object and on atmospheric conditions. |
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