When I lived in Grand Beach, Michigan, on the other side of Lake Michigan, I could usually see the three tallest buildings in Chicago from the beach at the end of my street. On rare occasions, I got the entire skyline. But at 43 miles away and zero elevation, it\u2019s not actually possible to see that far, given the curvature of the earth. Someone at sea level can typically see three miles to the horizon. So how was I seeing Chicago?<\/p>\n
Turns out I wasn\u2019t\u2009\u2014\u2009not directly, anyway. I was looking at the result of an optical phenomenon called atmospheric refraction, or \u201clooming,\u201d which is \u201cthe appearance of distant objects that are usually hidden by the convexity of the earth\u2019s surface,\u201d according to Andrew Young, a professor of astronomy at San Diego State University. The short explanation is that variations in density of the earth\u2019s atmosphere cause light to bend. \u201cIf the looming is not very strong, people across the lake can see the tops of the tallest buildings,\u201d Young says. But if it\u2019s stronger\u2009\u2014\u2009when the water is colder than the air, as it usually is in the spring\u2009\u2014\u2009\u201cthey can see the whole skyline.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whatever it was, the sight of Chicago made me homesick. So I moved back here, where I can see the skyline for real\u2009\u2014\u2009no looming necessary.<\/p>\n