<p>It's <strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angular_diameter" rel="nofollow noreferrer">angular diameter</a></strong> (a.k.a <strong>angular size</strong> or <strong>apparent size</strong>). This <a href="http://xkcd.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">XKCD</a> comic strip shows in an interesting way the angular size of some of the most remarkable objects in the sky:</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/EaP5q.png" alt="Comic about apparent size of celestial bodies"></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-10T13:26:14.757Z
2017-03-27T14:20:02.137Z
2017-03-27T14:20:02.137Z
Eduardo Serra
<p>Angular size. That is, the vieving angle that the body spans on sky.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-10T09:21:51.870Z
2014-01-10T09:21:51.870Z
Envite
<p>What's the name of the measure of apparent (visible) size of a body? e.g. the Sun and the Moon appear to be roughly the same size, despite the Sun being vastly bigger - because the Moon is much closer. What's this apparent size called?</p>

<units>
apparent size of an astronomical body
SF.
# apparent size of an astronomical body

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-01-10)

What's the name of the measure of apparent (visible) size of a body? e.g. the Sun and the Moon appear to be roughly the same size, despite the Sun being vastly bigger - because the Moon is much closer. What's this apparent size called?

**Tags:** units


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-01-10. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

Angular size. That is, the vieving angle that the body spans on sky.


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### Answer by username_1 on 2014-01-10. Score: 12

It's **[angular diameter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angular_diameter)** (a.k.a **angular size** or **apparent size**). This [XKCD](http://xkcd.com/) comic strip shows in an interesting way the angular size of some of the most remarkable objects in the sky:

![Comic about apparent size of celestial bodies](https://i.sstatic.net/EaP5q.png)


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