Why is tropic of cancer at 23.5

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A latitude circle is an imaginary ring around the Earth made up of all the points that have the same particular value for their latitude.

They are based on the rotation of the Earth in relationship to the sun. A circle of latitude is known as a parallel because the circles of latitude are at set distances apart and on some maps they appear parallel. This parallel marks the farthest point north at which the sun can be seen directly overhead at noon; north of the parallel the sun appears less than 90 degrees from the southern horizon at any time of the year.

The sun reaches its vertical zenith over the Tropic of Cancer on June 21—22, which is the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. This parallel was so named the Tropic of Cancer because the sun was in the constellation of Cancer at the time of the summer solstice. Most Recent. Is speed of light the same everywhere?

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