Earth Curvature Calculator
Calculate the hidden height due to Earth's curvature over a given distance. Useful for line-of-sight calculations, horizon distance, and understanding Earth's curvature effects.
Published by:
isCalculator Editorial Team
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How to use this tool?
This calculator determines if an object (target) is visible from a given distance, considering Earth's curvature and observer height.
- Enter Distance (km): The horizontal distance between the observer and the target.
- Enter Observer Height (m): The height of the observer's eyes above ground level.
- Enter Target Height (m): The height of the target object (e.g., a building or flag). Use 0 for ground-level objects.
- Click Calculate or press Enter in any input field.
- "Visible" – The target is not blocked by Earth's curvature.
- A value in meters – The height of the hidden portion of the target behind the curvature. If this value is positive, the target is partially or fully hidden.
Result:
Note: All inputs must be non-negative numbers. Use metric units (km for distance, m for heights).
Previous Results
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Frequently Asked Questions
Earth's curvature refers to the bending of the Earth's surface, causing objects to disappear over the horizon as distance increases.
Hidden height is approximated by h = d^2 / (2R) * 1000, where d is distance in km and R is Earth's radius (6371 km). Then subtract observer and target heights.
If the result is 'Visible', the line of sight is not blocked by curvature, meaning the target can be seen from the observer's position.