The Tropics

The "tropics" consist of the area between the Tropic of Cancer which is the line around the earth located at 23.5 degrees north of the equator and the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.5 degrees south of the equator.

The significance of these 2 imaginary lines lies in the fact that they represent the extreme boundaries at which the sun can be seen directly overhead. For example, in the United States even on June 21st, which marks the longest day of the year, the sun is still in the southern part of the sky and never shines on the northern side of your house .

Along the equator the sun will be in the southern sky for half of the year and the northern sky for the other half, and will be directly overhead twice per year at the vernal equinox (spring) and the autumnal equinox (autumn).

Winter Solstice:
marks shortest day (northern hemisphere), about 22 Dec, and first day of winter; sun directly over Tropic of Capricorn (23.5 S. Latitude)

Summer Solstice:
marks longest day (northern hemisphere), about 21 June, and first day of summer; sun directly over Tropic of Cancer (23.5 N. Latitude)

Equinox:
between solstices, day and night equal (12:12), sun directly over equator; sunrise 6am, sunset 6pm everywhere but poles. Two equinoces annually:


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