Atmospheric Refraction Sunset 3D Explorer vs Twilight Types 3D Explorer
freetoolonline.com editorial teamBoth pages render real atmospheric optics in one page load - 0 MB installed, USD 0, no account. The Atmospheric Refraction Sunset 3D Explorer covers the SUB-DEGREE bending and color-splitting of the Sun's own disk right at the horizon; the Twilight Types 3D Explorer covers the WIDER 0-18 degree sky-brightness bands after the Sun is already below the horizon.
The numbers side by side
| Aspect | Atmospheric Refraction Sunset Explorer | Twilight Types Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Install size | 0 MB - runs in the browser | 0 MB - runs in the browser |
| Price | USD 0 | USD 0 |
| Angular range shown | about -1.5 to +4 degrees around the horizon | 0 to 18 degrees of solar depression |
| What it shows | the Sun's disk lifting, flattening, and color-splitting | civil, nautical, and astronomical sky-brightness bands |
| Real feature highlighted | the green flash, and why "sunset" is defined 50 arcminutes below the horizon | white nights at high latitude in summer |
| Interaction | scrub true altitude, toggle air quality and the light-bend path | scrub depression angle, latitude, and season |
Where the Twilight Types Explorer wins
The Twilight Types Explorer wins when the question is how dark the whole sky gets, and for how long, once the Sun is several degrees below the horizon - including why some latitudes get white nights in summer.
Where the Atmospheric Refraction Sunset Explorer wins
The Atmospheric Refraction Sunset Explorer wins when the question is why the Sun's own disk looks flattened, sits higher than its true position, and can briefly flash green right at the horizon crossing - a sub-degree optical story the Twilight Types Explorer does not cover.
A reasonable rule
As a reasonable rule, use the Atmospheric Refraction Sunset Explorer first to see what happens to the Sun's disk itself in the last few minutes before it sets, then use the Twilight Types Explorer to see how the whole sky dims afterward.
See how to use the Atmospheric Refraction Sunset 3D Explorer for a step-by-step walkthrough.
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