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Where is the sun overhead in February? .... or any other month, for that matter?

User Ahodder
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Final answer:

In February, the Sun is overhead in the Southern Hemisphere, moving towards the celestial equator. It is directly above the Tropic of Capricorn during the December solstice and progresses to the celestial equator by the equinoxes in March and September, reaching the Tropic of Cancer in June.

Step-by-step explanation:

The position of the Sun overhead changes throughout the year due to the Earth's tilt and orbit around the Sun. During February, the Sun is overhead in the Southern Hemisphere, moving towards the celestial equator, but not yet above it. This is because February is after the December solstice, when the Sun is directly above the Tropic of Capricorn.

As the year progresses, the Sun's direct overhead position migrates northward: it is at the celestial equator during the equinoxes around March 21 and September 21, it then reaches its northernmost point during the June solstice, directly above the Tropic of Cancer. This explains why in June, for example, the Sun spends about 15 hours above the horizon in the Northern Hemisphere, providing longer days. During December, the situation is reversed, with the Sun being above the horizon for shorter periods in the Northern Hemisphere, leading to longer nights.

User Dan Dascalescu
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