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The Sun’s Path. Summer Solstice (approximately June 20-21). North Pole: The North Pole (90 degrees north latitude) receives 24 hours of daylight, as it has been daylight at the North Pole for the last three months Arctic Circle: It is light 24 hours a day north of the Arctic Circle
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Summer Solstice (approximately June 20-21) • North Pole: The North Pole (90 degrees north latitude) receives 24 hours of daylight, as it has been daylight at the North Pole for the last three months • Arctic Circle: It is light 24 hours a day north of the Arctic Circle • Note: because of the 23.5 degree axial tilt… • @ the Tropic of Cancer: On the June Solstice the sun is directly overhead the Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees North ) at noon. • YET…. • @Equator: At the equator (zero degrees latitude), the day is always 12 hours long. At the equator, sun rises daily at 6 a.m. local time and sets at 6 p.m. local time. The sun at noon at the equator is 23.5 degrees off the zenith.
Winter Solstice (approximately Dec. 20/21) • North Pole: At the North Pole, it has been dark of three months (since the September Equinox). It remains dark for another three (until the March Equinox). • Arctic Circle: All areas north of the Arctic Circle are dark on the June Solstice. • Note: because of the 23.5 degree axial tilt… • @Tropic of Capricorn: The sun is directly overhead the Tropic of Capricorn on the December Solstice. (23.5 degrees S) • @Equator: The sun is 23.5 degrees from zenith at noon. • YET…. • @Equator: The sun is 23.5 degrees from zenith at noon.
Equinoxes: March 21/22, Sept. 22/23 • There are 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness at all points on the earth’s surface on the two equinoxes. • Sunrise is at 6 a.m. and sunset is at 6 p.m. local (solar) time for most points on the earth’s surface. • Everywhere on the Earth will have 12 hours of day and night, but because of your latitude, the ALTITUDE OF THE Sun’s Path will vary • ONLY AT EQUATOR WILL ON EQUINOX DAY WILL THE SUN RISE DUE EAST AND SET DUE WEST.