How do you calculate the distance to the horizon?

√2Rh = √41807040h = √41807040 5280 √h miles ≈ 1.22459 √h miles . For example, if our eye is 5 feet about sea level, then the horizon distance is about 1.22459√5=2.738 miles away.

How far is the horizon on a ship?

It’s simple, really. If you want to know the distance to the horizon you simply have to know your height of eye. That is the distance that your eyes are off the surface of the water. If you’re in a jon boat, that would probably be about three feet (if you are sitting like you should be in a jon boat).

How far can you see a boat on the horizon?

How Far Away Must a Boat be to Disappear on the Horizon? A boat will disappear from view at about three miles away at sea level. This is because the human eye can only see about three miles away when your eyes are at an average human height of about five feet tall.

How do we judge distance at sea?

At a given height, the distance to the visible horizon is a known quantity. If you know how high your eyes are above the water, the distance to the horizon is just math. “Distance equals 1.17 times the square root of the height of your eye,” Will said.

How far can the eye see?

The Earth curves about 8 inches per mile. As a result, on a flat surface with your eyes 5 feet or so off the ground, the farthest edge that you can see is about 3 miles away.

How far can you see shore from a boat?

The correct answer is about 3 miles if your eye is about a foot above the ocean. However, most sea captains will tell you that you can see a ship approaching at 12 miles. This is why International Waters are set to 12 miles offshore. That is the answer we like.

How far can you see land on a boat?

That depends on the height of the land, and on the height of your eye above the sea. If it is Say a Mtn top that is 6000 ft high and you are in a small boat . On a clear day it would be visible at over 89 Nautical miles .