How About a Nice Tropical Punch?

Quick – tell me everything you know about the Tropic of Cancer without looking at Google or any synonymous!

One thing I know is that we crossed it this morning, a little before dawn. I was a little disappointed to find there was no sign, or dotted line in the ocean to identify it. I don’t feel any different having crossed it either.

I also know that the Latin word for “crab” is “cancer” and that the Tropic of Cancer is the line of latitude that marks the most northerly point at which the sun can be seen directly overhead, which is on the northern hemisphere’s first day of summer, the solstice, on the 21^st of June. On that day, we northern hemispherians get our longest day, with the sun rising the highest it gets in the year. Well, the sun doesn’t actually rise. The earth kind of tilts on its axis while it spins around the sun, and summer solstice is when the northern half tilts the most, before starting to tilt the other way. This ends at the winter solstice, December 21, our shortest day.

That’s the sum of my knowledge however. So let’s see what “Mr. Goggle” can tell me.

The Tropic of Cancer is at 23°26′13.1″ (or 23.43698°) north of the Equator. That is, it is usually at that latitude. Apparently its position is not fixed. It is actually drifting almost 15 metres, per year!

I did not know that. What else?

It got its name about 2,000 years ago, when astronomy was examined through star constellations, and the longest day of the year, being late June, is in the constellation of Cancer the Crab.

Well, that’s obvious. I mean….oh, sorry…..you weren’t finished. Do continue.

However, this is no longer the case, due to the “procession of the equinoxes” (whatever that means). In this day and age, the summer solstice is in the constellation of Taurus the Bull. And the word “tropic” means “turn” in Greek, referring to the turning of the sun from the longest day towards the shortest.

Huh.

Its southern counterpart is the Tropic of Capricorn for all the same reasons except that it is relevant to the longest day in the southern Hemisphere, December 21

This is no doubt not in the Constellation of Capricorn the Goat anymore, as it would have been when it was so named. Based on my calculations, I am guessing it is now in Scorpio the Scorpion (two constellations earlier, as Taurus is two constellations earlier than Cancer), but don’t quote me.

Ahem, may I continue?

Oh yes, certainly Mr. Goggle. Do go on.

 

North of the Tropic of Cancer are the subtropics and the northern temperate zone. The space between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn is where the “tropics” are found, and the line of latitude equidistant between the two Tropics is the Equator. The Tropic of Cancer passes through 16 countries…

Okay, thank you Mr. Goggle, that’s enough I think. Well done, but it’s time to put a sock in it. No one likes a smarty-pants.