Word origin · etymology
Greek and Latin scientific vocabulary.
Atmosphere combines vapor and sphere; refraction comes from refringere, to break back. The optical term names bending at a medium change.
How we know · epistemology
Physical optical effect and atmospheric model
A correction estimates the shift using atmospheric conditions. Geometric altitude omits it; a standard pressure and temperature cannot reproduce every actual sighting precisely.
Skyfield: Positions — local altitude, azimuth and atmospheric refraction ↗
Connected concepts
Terms used in this explanation
Mentioned in 3 other entries
These links connect subjects and terminology. They do not establish a shared historical origin.
Sources & provenance
Use the citations beside each section to distinguish a calculation convention, a historical teaching and an editorial example.