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Home Q & A Board Science-Related Homework Help Geography and Earth Sciences
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Aaronc610 Aaronc610
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9 years ago
Given the amount of decreasing daylight being experienced in Southern Ohio due to the onset of winter, where would the "Subsolar Point" be closest too?

The Tropic of Cancer or The Tropic of Capricorn? If someone could explain this that would be great.
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9 years ago
The subsolar point on a planet is where its sun is perceived to be directly overhead (in zenith); that is where the sun's rays are hitting the planet exactly perpendicular to its surface. It can also mean the point closest to the sun on an object in space, even though the sun might not be visible.

For planets with an orientation and rotation similar to the Earth's, the subsolar point will move westward, circling the globe once a day, but it will also move north and south between the tropics over the course of a year. The December solstice occurs when the subsolar point is on the Tropic of Capricorn and the June solstice is at the instant when the subsolar point is on the Tropic of Cancer. The March and September equinoxes occur when the subsolar point is on the equator.
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