What term describes when the Sun is at its most northern or southern point?

What term describes when the Sun is at its most northern or southern point?

• A. Equinox
• B. Solstice
• C. Zenith
• D. Nadir

Answer: (B)

When the Sun reaches its most northern or southern position in the sky, that moment is called a solstice. This happens twice a year because Earth's axis is tilted about 23.5 degrees relative to its orbit around the Sun. At each solstice, the Sun’s declination is at its maximum north (+23.5°) or maximum south (−23.5°) relative to the celestial equator. In the Northern Hemisphere, the northernmost Sun position yields the longest day of the year (summer solstice), while the southernmost position yields the shortest day (winter solstice). The other terms describe different situations: an equinox is when the Sun crosses the celestial equator, making day and night roughly equal; the zenith is the point directly overhead, and the nadir is directly beneath.

When the Sun reaches its most northern or southern position in the sky, that moment is called a solstice. This happens twice a year because Earth's axis is tilted about 23.5 degrees relative to its orbit around the Sun. At each solstice, the Sun’s declination is at its maximum north (+23.5°) or maximum south (−23.5°) relative to the celestial equator. In the Northern Hemisphere, the northernmost Sun position yields the longest day of the year (summer solstice), while the southernmost position yields the shortest day (winter solstice). The other terms describe different situations: an equinox is when the Sun crosses the celestial equator, making day and night roughly equal; the zenith is the point directly overhead, and the nadir is directly beneath.