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When is the sun directly overhead?

(@STXBob)
Posts: 2138
Noble Member
Topic starter
 

In another thread, aussie said:

...The tropical sun [on St. Croix] is straight overhead twice a year.

I've been wondering how to figure out on which days the sun is most directly overhead at a given latitude.
At 23.5 N (Tropic of Cancer), it's on our summer solstice (~June 21), which is once per year.
At 23.5 S (Tropic of Capricorn), it's on our winter solstice (~Dec 21), which is once per year.
Everywhere else in the tropics, it's twice per year.
At 0 N (Equator), it's on the equinoxes (~Mar 21 and ~Sep 21).

But when is the sun is most directly overhead at a specific latitude like 18 N?

I just found the chart below at http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/6h.html

For 18 N (the approx. latitude of USVI), the chart shows the sun is directly overhead around May 5 and Aug 4.

Elsewhere on that website, I see that “Subsolar Point” is the term for the location on the Earth where the Sun is directly overhead.


 
Posted : August 13, 2010 12:25 pm
 Cory
(@Cory)
Posts: 264
Reputable Member
 

Some more intersting sun stuff 🙂

http://www.gaisma.com/en/location/frederiksted-southeast.html


 
Posted : August 13, 2010 12:40 pm
(@SkysTheLimit)
Posts: 1914
Noble Member
 

When is the sun directly overhead?

LOL I would have answered "around 1pm" 😎


 
Posted : August 13, 2010 12:41 pm
(@aussie)
Posts: 876
Prominent Member
 

I've been wondering how to figure out on which days the sun is most directly overhead at a given latitude.

Try here Bob.

http://www.srrb.noaa.gov/highlights/sunrise/azel.html


 
Posted : August 13, 2010 1:19 pm
(@GoodToGo)
Posts: 615
Honorable Member
 

-delete-


 
Posted : August 13, 2010 5:27 pm
(@sloop_jones)
Posts: 254
Reputable Member
 

thx. for the chart. I would have answered "when it is directly overhead"
sloop


 
Posted : August 14, 2010 10:50 am

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