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The Sun is right where it always is; in the center of the Solar System, with the

planets orbiting around it.

From our perspective standing here on the spinning Earth, the Sun APPEARS TO

rise in the East and set in the West, and to move slowly north between December 21

and June 21, and then to move slowly south from June 21 to December 21. But

just

remember that this is a sort of optical illusion; it's the Earth's movements that make

it seem so.

At the northern hemisphere summer solstice, around June 21, the Sun appears to

pass DIRECTLY overhead for locations along the Tropic of Cancer, at 23 degrees 26 minutes

North Latitude (because the Earth "wobbles" a bit, this value changes very slightly

each year), and then slowly spirals south. On the fall Equinox, the Sun passes

directly overhead along the equator, on September 21. (These dates will fluctuate

a day either way depending on the cycle of leap years.) The Sun "moves" south,

reaching its southernmost location over the Tropic of Capricorn (23 degrees, 26 minutes

south) on December 21, the northern hemisphere winter solstice.

After that, the Sun appears to slowly move north, passing over the equator on the

spring equinox, and passing over the Tropic of Cancer again on June 21.

In terms of the sun's celestial (astronomical) coordinates on the map of the stars:

-- March equinox . . . . . Right Ascension 0hours, Declination 0°

-- June solstice . . . . . . Right Ascension 6hours, Declination +23.4394°

-- September equinox . . Right Ascension 12hours, Declination 0°

-- December solstice. . . Right Ascension 18hours, Declination -23.4394°

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How does the position of earth determine whether it is one of the solstice or equinox days?

The solstices occur at the points where the Earth is either closest to, or farthest away from, the Sun. The equinoxes are the mid-points between the solstices - where the day & night are of equal length.


Why solstices and exquinoxes are significiant?

Solstices and equinoxes mark key points in the Earth's orbit around the Sun, significantly influencing seasonal changes. The summer and winter solstices represent the longest and shortest days of the year, respectively, while the equinoxes denote the moments when day and night are approximately equal in length. These astronomical events have cultural, agricultural, and ecological importance, historically guiding planting and harvesting cycles and shaping various cultural celebrations and rituals. Additionally, they serve as reminders of the Earth's tilt and its impact on climate and daylight.


What are the similarities and differences between equinox and solstice?

A solstice is the longest or shortest days of the year. (December 21 is the winter solstice or shortest day of the year, June 21st is the longest or the summer solstice) Equinox is when the day and night are equal amounts of time.


What do you call the two times a year when the earth has twelve hours of daylight and twelve hours of night because the poles are not pointed towards or away from the sun?

These events are called equinoxes. There are two equinoxes in a year, the spring (vernal) equinox in March and the autumnal equinox in September, when day and night are approximately equal in length all over the world.


What were two main things prehistoric people relied on the sky for?

Prehistoric people relied on the sky for navigation by observing the sun, moon, and stars to determine direction. Additionally, they used celestial events such as solstices and equinoxes to track the passage of time for agricultural practices.

Related Questions

How does the revolution of the Earth correlate to the solstices and the equinoxes?

The revolution of the Earth around the sun causes the changing seasons and the positions of the solstices and equinoxes. The solstices occur when the Earth's axis is tilted most toward or away from the sun, leading to the longest and shortest days of the year. The equinoxes occur when the tilt is at a right angle to the sun, resulting in day and night being of nearly equal length.


How solstices and equinoxes different?

Equinoxes are the two points among the stars where the sun's apparent annual path crosses the celestial equator. Solstices are the two points among the stars where the sun's apparent annual path reaches its extremes, north and south of the celestial equator.


How are season and solstice are related?

Solstices and Equinoxes are points in the orbit of the Earth around the sun, hence directly related to seasons


Why equinoxes and solstices occur?

These happen because the axis of Earths spin in inclined at an angle from the normal of to the plane in which it orbits the Sun.


Why do equinoxes and solstices occur?

These happen because the axis of Earths spin in inclined at an angle from the normal of to the plane in which it orbits the Sun.


How often does the Sun appear directly overhead in Mexico City?

Twice; both during the sun's summer and winter solstices.


How are the words season and solstice related?

Solstices and Equinoxes are points in the orbit of the Earth around the sun, hence directly related to seasons


How does the position of earth determine whether it is one of the solstice or equinox days?

The solstices occur at the points where the Earth is either closest to, or farthest away from, the Sun. The equinoxes are the mid-points between the solstices - where the day & night are of equal length.


What is a solar calendar?

A solar calendar follow the phases of the sun which gives us equinoxes and solstices whereas a lunar calendar follows the phases of the moon and it's cycles.


How do you know that The Earth is tilted at 23.5 degrees?

Measure the angle from the true horizon to the midday Sun on the dates of the vernal and atumnal equinoxes and on the dates of the solstices. The angle between the the solstice noon Sun and an equinox midday Sun will be 23,5 degrees.


What latitude for Arnold is the sun directly overhead at noon on the equinox and solstice?

There is no latitude on earth at which the sun would be directly overhead at noon on the equinox and the solstice.


How are solstices and equinoxes related?

They are related to seasons because of the tilt. When the Earth tilts the sun faces the Southern Hemisphere so since the nothern hemisphere has no light we have summer in the southern, but when the sun moves in to the northern hemisphere we have winter.