Here's why it's not simply an "altitude":
* Altitude is the angle of the sun above the horizon at a specific time and location.
* Solar declination is the angular distance of the sun north or south of the celestial equator. It changes throughout the year.
On December 21st, the sun's declination is at its most southern point, which is -23.44 degrees. This means the sun is 23.44 degrees south of the celestial equator.
To find the altitude of the noon sun on December 21st at a specific location, you need to consider:
1. Latitude: The further north you are, the lower the noon sun will be.
2. Solar Declination: On December 21st, this is -23.44 degrees.
Here's a simplified calculation:
* For locations on the Tropic of Capricorn (23.44° South Latitude): The noon sun will be directly overhead (90 degrees altitude).
* For locations north of the Tropic of Capricorn: The noon sun altitude will be less than 90 degrees. You subtract the solar declination from 90 degrees and then subtract the latitude.
Example:
* Location: New York City (40.7° North Latitude)
* Noon Sun Altitude: 90° - 23.44° - 40.7° = 25.86°
Important Note: This is a simplified calculation. The actual altitude can be slightly affected by factors like atmospheric refraction and the earth's elliptical orbit.
