https://wiki.tfes.org/High_Altitude_Photographs
Basically: Yeah, you should totally see a curve from a high altitude photograph. That's the shape the sun spotlight takes.
Curious squirrel,
I reviewed the explanation in the link you gave. I have a few questions and I think it would be best to number them very exactly and deal with them one by one. That would be the scientific way to proceed with this.
Q1. If the curvature is an optical effect caused by the observer seeing the edges of the circular light cast by the 'spotlight' sun, that implies that the limits of that light need to be in view? Y/N
(i.e. The effect would not be observable for anyone who could not see the shape of the light being cast.)
Q2. Now let us say for example that the area of light was so great that for a particular observer only lit areas could be seen. Well then it would be impossible for any 'shape of light' effect to be seen? Y/N
Q3. Given that this is impossible for the model to work it must be the case that the illuminated area is far smaller than the total surface area of the Earth and that any given observer is always able to see the edge of the suns projected spotlight? Y/N
Q4. If this is true it must mean that vast areas of the Earth's surface are in darkness while only a relatively small area is in light? Y/N
Q5. If we sum the daylight hours over a full year at any given location there is as much light (day) as there is night (dark) with only minor fluctuations depending on the latitude? Y/N
Q6. Q4 and Q5 are irreconcilable? Y/N
Q7. In addition, it stands to reason that for an spherical light shining on the Earth there would be some observers in the middle of the light zone, some on the edge, some outside and people at every area in between? Y/N
Q8. The edge of a spherical ellipse when viewed from different distances would appear to have different curvatures? Y/N
(The easiest way to visualize this is to picture yourself in the center of a circular hall. All the walls would appear equally circular. Then picture yourself up against one wall. The curve here would seem very pronounced. Looking back over your shoulder the far wall would appear relatively flat).
Q9. Actual observations of the horizon from balloons show a completely uniform curvature from all observation points and altitudes? Y/N
Q10. Qs 8 & 9 are irreconcilable? Y/N
We can confirm that we are looking down at the sun's circle of light upon the earth by noting that shots from amateur high altitude balloons show an elliptical horizon. If the earth were a globe, curving downwards in three dimensions, all curvature seen in photographs would appear as an arc of a circle. However, curvature does not appear as an arc of a circle.
First of all, just for clarity we need to better define the terms circle and ellipse. A circle actually
is an ellipse. A special case where both foci are at the same point. For an ellipse the total distance from any two foci to the ellipse edge is equal. But essentially an ellipse is a squished circle with two flat regions and two pointy regions.
http://www.qrg.northwestern.edu/projects/vss/docs/space-environment/2-how-ellipse-is-different.htmlIt is not clear why the source you linked to states that the horizon is elliptical. It is not. I challenge you to find any measurements that would confirm this statement. It is an arc of a circle. For such a fundamental assertion to be made that flies in the face of the mainstream one would think there would be some reference to recorded data and associated calculations. The cynic in me wonders if the author simply hoped that people would understand ellipses look flatter and that superficially this matches how the Earth's horizon looks. This is beyond dumb and absolutely refutable and testable in more ways than it is possible to mention.
Here is a geometrical treatment of the circular arc of the Earth's curvature. It assumes a basic understanding of high school geometry. Sin and Cosine rule, that sort of thing. This is a good place to start for a proper understanding of what a circular arc looks like and how to test the data mathematically.
https://chizzlewit.wordpress.com/2015/05/13/working-with-the-curvaure-of-a-spherical-earth/