On June 21 the Sun stands straight overhead at noon for places 23 degrees north. What is that latitude called?
AThe Tropic of Capricorn
BThe Tropic of Cancer
CThe Arctic Circle
DThe celestial equator
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. The Tropic of Cancer
1. At the June solstice the Sun appears about 23 degrees north of the equator.
2. It therefore passes through the zenith for people at 23 degrees north latitude.
3. That circle of latitude is named the Tropic of Cancer.
4. The Tropic of Capricorn is its southern twin, used at the December solstice instead.
_Source: OpenStax Astronomy (CC BY 4.0), Ch 4 "Earth, Moon, and Sky" and Ch 5 "Radiation and Spectra", section 4.2 The Seasons_
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