So your description of the Heavens (or lower Heavens) would be "all of what you see when you look up"? I like it. Peace be upon you brothers.
As-salamu alaykum
This is a good discussion and thank you for all that have contributed.
From my humble point of view, that is my understanding too from a Quran's perspective. Verses clearly indicate anything at a distance, so when one looks up, the distance would start as soon as one looks up, atmosphere and into the cosmic space / heavens (Firmament).
The main rendering of 'sama' is something raised, lofty, uplifted, exalted or elevated, or rose high. This context of 'distance' is also used laterally not just vertically in Arabic conversation. Lexicons refer to phrases such as '
Sama liya-shaks' implying the form, or figure, seen from a distance, rose of became raised, to me (i.e. to my view) so that I plainly distinguished it
[1] Or
'sama -(l)-hilal' - The moon near the change rose.
Therefore, anything at a distance is the key interpretation and
in the context of looking up, this will refer to the
firmament (Sky or heavens / wider cosmic space)
[2].
In the end, the context will derive the best meaning.
Regards,
Joseph
REFERENCES[1] LANE. E.W, Edward Lanes Lexicon, Williams and Norgate 1863; Librairie du Liban Beirut-Lebanon 1968, Volume 4, Page 1433[2] Ibid