Why tropic of cancer 23.5

The summer solstice — also known as midsummer or festival solstice — occurs when the sun is highest in the sky. It is the day of the year with the longest daylight. The Tropic of Cancer — also called the Northern Tropic — is the most northern circle of latitude on Earth where the sun can appear directly overhead at noon. It occurs at approximately The Tropic of Cancer is a line of latitude circling the Earth at approximately It is the northernmost point on Earth where the sun's rays can appear directly overhead at local noon.

It is one of the five major circles of latitude dividing the Earth — alongside the Tropic of Capricorn, the equator, the Arctic Circle and the Antarctic Circle. The summer solstice occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer. Let's start with the basics: Latitude is a measurement of distance north or south of the equator, the imaginary line that encircles the middle of the planet.

The equator's latitude is 0 degrees, and there are imaginary lines known as parallels that circle Earth from east to west that run surprise! A "circle of latitude" refers to the imaginary ring that links all the points on a shared parallel. That latitude of the North Pole? Ninety degrees north. The South Pole? Ninety degrees south.

While you've probably heard of the North and South poles , you may not be as familiar with the other circles of latitude. And while there aren't proper names for all of them, there are five major ones to know: the equator, the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, and the Arctic and Antarctic circles. The Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer were delineated because they are both places within the hemisphere where it's possible for the sun to be directly overhead.

For ancient travelers who used the heavens to guide their way, these were crucial demarcation lines. Located at approximately The tropics account for about 36 percent of Earth, and about a third of the world's population lives in this area that includes the equator and parts of North America, South America, Africa, Asia and Australia.

During the summer solstice around June 21 , the sun is located immediately overhead the Tropic of Cancer, making it the farthest point north on Earth where the sun is located directly above at noon. The equator divides the planet into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

On the equator, the length of day and night are equal every day of the year: day is always 12 hours long, and night is always 12 hours long. The Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn each lie at The Tropic of Capricorn lies at The tropics are the two lines where the sun is directly overhead at noon on the two solstices—about June 21 and December The sun is directly overhead at noon on the Tropic of Cancer on June 21 the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of winter in the Southern Hemisphere , and the sun is directly overhead at noon on the Tropic of Capricorn on December 21 the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

The reason for the location of the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn at roughly The Earth is tilted The area bounded by the Tropic of Cancer on the north and Tropic of Capricorn on the south is known as the "tropics.

Only higher latitudes, north of the Tropic of Cancer and south of the Tropic of Capricorn, experience significant seasonal variation in climate.

Areas in the tropics can be cold, however. The peak of Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii stands nearly 14, feet above sea level, and snow is not unusual. If you live north of the Tropic of Cancer or south of the Tropic of Capricorn, the sun will never be directly overhead. In the United States, for example, Hawaii is the only location in the country that is south of the Tropic of Cancer, and it is thus the only location in the United States where the sun will be directly overhead in the summer.

While the equator divides Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres, it is the prime meridian at zero degrees longitude and the line of longitude opposite the prime meridian near the International Date Line at degrees longitude that divides Earth into the Eastern and Western hemispheres.

Some geographers place the boundaries between the hemispheres at 20 degrees west and degrees east to avoid running through Europe and Africa.