SOLAR SYSTEM

Detailed explanation-1: -The summer solstice for the northern hemisphere occurs within a few days of June 21 every year. It is on this day that the position of the Sun in the sky at noon is at its highest altitude of the year, and the position of the Sun at Sunrise and Sunset is farthest north for the year.

Detailed explanation-2: -On June 21, the Sun is 23° N of the celestial equator, so it will be 23° away from the zenith at noon. The altitude above the horizon will be 23° less than the altitude of the zenith (90°), so it is 90° – 23° = 67° above the horizon.

Detailed explanation-3: -In terms of solar time, noon is the moment when the Sun crosses the local meridian and reaches its highest position in the sky, except at the poles. This version of noon is also called solar noon or high noon.

Detailed explanation-4: -By the June solstice (usually June 21), the sun rises considerably north of due east and sets considerably north of due west. For mid-northern observers, the noon sun is still toward the south, but much higher in the sky than at the equinoxes. After the June solstice, the sun’s path gradually drifts southward.

Detailed explanation-5: -At southern hemisphere midsummer (the winter solstice, December 21), the sun would be directly overhead (90 degrees from all horizon directions; the zenith) at noon as seen from a latitute of 23.5 degrees south (Tropic of Capricorn).

Detailed explanation-6: -In New York State the sun appears to move across the Southern sky. At local solar noon the sun will reach the highest altitude for the day and the Sun will be due South (azimuth of 180°).