What factors primarily cause the scattering leading to Atmospheric Extinction when viewing stars near the horizon?
Answer
Air molecules, dust, water vapor, and aerosols
The physical agents responsible for the scattering that causes Atmospheric Extinction are the components present in the Earth's atmosphere. Specifically, air molecules themselves, along with suspended elements like dust, water vapor, and aerosols, interact with the incoming starlight, especially over the long path length encountered near the horizon. This scattering preferentially affects shorter, blue wavelengths but generally reduces the overall brightness visible to the observer.
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