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As the Earth is constantly rotating on its axis and also orbiting the sun, the relative position of the sun to any given point on Earth is constantly changing, so in reality it would only be overhead for an instant.

If you're willing to allow for a certain amount of slop in "directly", then you can figure this out easily. The sun (apparently) completes a full circuit of the sky (360 degrees) in 24 hours, so some very simple math shows its apparent motion is 15 degrees per hour, which is the same as 15 arcseconds per second. Decide how many arcseconds off it can be before you don't consider it "directly" anymore and divide by 7.5, and that will tell you how many seconds it's "directly" overhead.

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What is the area between Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn called?

This band around the earth, consisting of all surface within 23.5 degrees of the equator, is know as the "Tropical zone", or simply the "tropics".It includes every point on earth where it is possible for the sun to be directly overhead at any moment during the year.


Where is the sun at the exact zenith at least once a year?

The sun is at the exact zenith at least once a year within the Tropics, specifically between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. This area is known as the tropics and it includes regions close to the Equator where the sun appears directly overhead at solar noon.


The region of the earth's surface lying between latitudes that represent the farthest north and south the sun can shine directly overhead?

The region of the Earth's surface between the Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees North) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5 degrees South) is known as the tropics. Within this region, the sun can shine directly overhead at least once a year, leading to a more direct and intense sunlight experience.


In September is the sun ever directly overhead at 90 degree angle at noon?

Sure. At the time the sun reaches the Autumnal Equinox, around September 22 or 23 each year, when the sun crosses the equator, then wherever on the equator it happens to be noon at that moment, the sun is directly overhead there. Also, don't forget about the 22 or 23 September days before that, when the sun is slightly north of the equator, plus the 7 or 8 September days after that, when the sun is slightly south of the equator. There are bunches of places within those latitudes that will have noon-sun overhead, once during the month.


What is the geographic significance of the two tropic lines?

The Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn mark the northern and southern boundaries, respectively, of the region within which lie all the points on Earth where it is ever possible for the sun to be directly overhead, at any time of day and on any day of the year.

Related Questions

What is the significance of the lines of the tropics?

The Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn mark the northern and southern boundaries, respectively, of the region within which lie all the points on Earth where it is ever possible for the sun to be directly overhead, at any time of day and on any day of the year.


What is the area between Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn called?

This band around the earth, consisting of all surface within 23.5 degrees of the equator, is know as the "Tropical zone", or simply the "tropics".It includes every point on earth where it is possible for the sun to be directly overhead at any moment during the year.


How were the tropics determined?

The tropics are located 23.4 degrees north and south of the equator. They represent the lines beyond which the sun's rays are never directly perpendicular to the earth's surface during the year. Because of the inclination of the earth's axis, regions within the tropics get the sun directly overhead at least once per year.


Where is the sun at the exact zenith at least once a year?

The sun is at the exact zenith at least once a year within the Tropics, specifically between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. This area is known as the tropics and it includes regions close to the Equator where the sun appears directly overhead at solar noon.


How many days a year does the sun pass directly overhead at 25 degrees latitude?

452,4000000


The region of the earth's surface lying between latitudes that represent the farthest north and south the sun can shine directly overhead?

The region of the Earth's surface between the Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees North) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5 degrees South) is known as the tropics. Within this region, the sun can shine directly overhead at least once a year, leading to a more direct and intense sunlight experience.


Why are ahemdabad and kolkata able to see the noon sun exactly overhead twice a year but not in delhi?

This happens at any location between the Tropic of Cancer (in the north) and the Tropic of Capricorn (in the south). These lines, about 23.4 degrees to the north and south of the equator respectively, mark the farthest latitudes away from the equator where the sun can be exactly overhead [that point is sometimes called the zenith]. This region between the tropics is known as the tropical region. If you are within the tropics but not exactly on one, you will experience the sun passing directly overhead on its way to one tropic, and then you will experience this again as the sun moves toward the other tropic. It is interesting to note that the latitudes of the tropics coincide with the earth's tilt relative to the sun-earth plane called the Ecliptic.


What is routing overhead?

nodes often change their location within network. so, some stale routes are generated in the routing table which leads to unnecessary routing overhead.


In September is the sun ever directly overhead at 90 degree angle at noon?

Sure. At the time the sun reaches the Autumnal Equinox, around September 22 or 23 each year, when the sun crosses the equator, then wherever on the equator it happens to be noon at that moment, the sun is directly overhead there. Also, don't forget about the 22 or 23 September days before that, when the sun is slightly north of the equator, plus the 7 or 8 September days after that, when the sun is slightly south of the equator. There are bunches of places within those latitudes that will have noon-sun overhead, once during the month.


Is New Zealand located in mountains or the tropics?

Neither. New Zealand is not in the tropics, but neither is it "in the mountains". New Zealand features many mountains, glaciers and a long line of alps, but its actual location is within the temperate zone.


Is New Zealand within the tropics?

no


What is the geographic significance of the two tropic lines?

The Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn mark the northern and southern boundaries, respectively, of the region within which lie all the points on Earth where it is ever possible for the sun to be directly overhead, at any time of day and on any day of the year.