visible horizon

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

1.The line which bounds that part of the earth's surface visible to a spectator from a given point; the apparent junction of the earth and sky. [1913 Webster]

And when the morning sun shall raise his car Above the border of this horizon.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

All the horizon round Invested with bright rays.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

2.(Astron.) (a) A plane passing through the eye of the spectator and at right angles to the vertical at a given place; a plane tangent to the earth's surface at that place; called distinctively the sensible horizon. (b) A plane parallel to the sensible horizon of a place, and passing through the earth's center; -- called also rational horizon or celestial horizon. (c) (Naut.) The unbroken line separating sky and water, as seen by an eye at a given elevation, no land being visible. [1913 Webster]

3.(Geol.) The epoch or time during which a deposit was made. [1913 Webster]

The strata all over the earth, which were formed at the same time, are said to belong to the same geological horizon.— Le Conte.[1913 Webster]

4.(Painting) The chief horizontal line in a picture of any sort, which determines in the picture the height of the eye of the spectator; in an extended landscape, the representation of the natural horizon corresponds with this line. [1913 Webster]

5.The limit of a person's range of perception, capabilities, or experience; as, children raised in the inner city have limited horizons. [PJC]

6.[fig.] A boundary point or line, or a time point, beyond which new knowledge or experiences may be found; as, more powerful computers are just over the horizon. [PJC]

Apparent horizon. See under Apparent.

Artificial horizon, a level mirror, as the surface of mercury in a shallow vessel, or a plane reflector adjusted to the true level artificially; -- used chiefly with the sextant for observing the double altitude of a celestial body.

Celestial horizon. (Astron.) See def. 2, above.

Dip of the horizon (Astron.), the vertical angle between the sensible horizon and a line to the visible horizon, the latter always being below the former.

Rational horizon, and Sensible horizon. (Astron.) See def. 2, above.

Visible horizon. See definitions 1 and 2, above. [1913 Webster]

1.Perceivable by the eye; capable of being seen; perceptible; in view; as, a visible star; the least spot is visible on white paper. [1913 Webster]

Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.— Bk. of Com. Prayer.[1913 Webster]

Virtue made visible in outward grace.— Young.[1913 Webster]

2.Noticeable; apparent; open; conspicuous. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

The factions at court were greater, or more visible, than before.— Clarendon.[1913 Webster]

Visible church (Theol.), the apparent church of Christ on earth; the whole body of professed believers in Christ, as contradistinguished from the invisible, or real, church, consisting of sanctified persons.

Visible horizon. Same as Apparent horizon, under Apparent. [1913 Webster] -- Vis"i*ble*ness, n. -- Vis"i*bly, adv. [1913 Webster]