Tropic of Capricorn
Coordinates: 23°26′17″S 0°0′0″W / 23.43806°S 0°E
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The Tropic of Capricorn, or Southern tropic, marks the most southerly latitude at which the sun can appear directly overhead at noon. This event occurs at the December solstice, when the southern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun to its maximum extent.
Tropic of Capricorn is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. It currently (Epoch 2010) lies 23° 26′ 16″ south of the Equator.[1]
It is currently drifting north at the rate of almost half a second (0.47″) of latitude, which is about 15 metres, per year (it was at exactly 23º 27' S in year 1917).[2]
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[edit] Geography
The northern hemisphere equivalent of the Tropic of Capricorn is the Tropic of Cancer. Latitudes south of the Tropic of Capricorn are in the Southern Temperate Zone. The region north of the Tropic of Capricorn and south of the Tropic of Cancer is known as the tropics.
The position of the Tropic of Capricorn is not fixed, but rather it varies in a complex manner over time; see under circles of latitude for information.
Starting at the Prime Meridian and heading eastwards, the Tropic of Capricorn passes through:
[edit] Places located along the Tropic of Capricorn
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The following cities and landmarks are either located near the Tropic of Capricorn, or pass through it.
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This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
- Argentina
- Australia
- Alice Springs, Northern Territory
- Emerald, Queensland
- Gibson Desert, Western Australia
- Great Dividing Range, Queensland
- Lake Disappointment, Western Australia
- Newman, Western Australia
- Rockhampton, Queensland
- Longreach, Queensland
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Itaquaquecetuba
- Mogi das Cruzes
- Maringá
- São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport
- São Paulo
- Sorocaba
- Ubatuba
- Chile
- Madagascar
- Mozambique
- Inhambane city
- Namibia
- Paraguay
- South Africa
- Kruger National Park
- Polokwane
- Capricorn District Municipality
- Capricorn Archdeaconary in the Anglican Diocese of St Mark the Evangelist
[edit] Name
The Tropic of Capricorn is so named because about 2,000 years ago the sun was entering the constellation Capricornus (capricorn is Latin for goat horn) at the December solstice. In modern times the sun appears in the constellation Sagittarius during this time. The change is due to precession of the equinoxes. The word "tropic" itself comes from the Greek tropos, meaning turn, referring to the fact that the sun appears to "turn back" at the solstices.
[edit] Cultural significance
In India, the day of sun entering the zodiacal belt Capricorn is celebrated as Makara Sankranti festival. Tropic of Capricorn is called Makara Vrutta in Indian languages.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Temporal Epoch Calculations
- Useful constants" See: Obliquity of the ecliptic
[edit] Notes
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