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  • Understanding Solar Noon: What Happens When the Sun is Overhead?
    When the sun is directly overhead, a few things happen:

    * The sun's rays hit the Earth at a 90-degree angle. This means the rays are concentrated in a smaller area, resulting in the strongest sunlight of the day.

    * The shadows are at their shortest. Since the sun is directly above, objects cast almost no shadow.

    * The temperature is typically at its highest. This is because the concentrated sunlight is heating the Earth's surface most effectively.

    * It's solar noon. This is the moment when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky. It's important to note that solar noon is not necessarily the same as 12:00 pm on a clock.

    * This phenomenon is called "the zenith." The zenith is the point in the sky directly above an observer.

    Important Note: The sun only reaches the zenith at locations between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. These areas receive the most direct sunlight throughout the year.

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