Name

The Change in the Sun’s Apparent Path with Seasons

The diagram below represents a model of the celestial sphere for an observer at 41.8o North. Arcs AB, CD, and EF represent the apparent path of the Sun as seen on three different days of the year. The altitude of Polaris is indicated.

1. Label the horizon. 2. Label east (90o azimuth) and west (270o azimuth). 3. Label the zenith. 4. Draw an arrow from the horizon that shows the altitude to Polaris. 5. Draw arrows on each arc indicating the apparent direction of the Sun’s apparent daily motion. 6. Draw a line from the observer to Solar noon on the arc that follows the celestial equator of the sky. 7. Which letters show the positions of sunrise? ______8. Which arc shows sunrise in the northeast and sunset in the northwest? ______9. The path represented by arc AB is for the first day of which season? ______10. The daily path of the Sun on an equinox is shown by which arc? ______11. Based on the exact altitude of Polaris and the apparent movement of the noon Sun throughout the year of +23.5oo and -23.5 relative to the celestial equator, calculate the maximum and minimum altitude of the noon Sun during the year.

Maximum Altitude ______Minimum Altitude ______

12. What real Earth motion is responsible for the apparent daily path of the Sun? ______13. What real Earth motion causes the seasonal change in the Sun’s apparent daily path? ______14. If the inclination of Earth’s axis was 50o what would be the effect on the altitude of the Sun at solar noon on June 21?

Professor Vorwald MET 102 Sun’s Path Worksheet