Astronomy/sun angle

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Expert: Steven LJ Russo - 6/28/2007


Question
Hello.

Ireland is at latitude 53 deg N.  I have been trying to find out the highest angle of the sun for it, at noon on June 21st--and its lowest angle, at noon on 21 December. I haven't the foggiest idea how to do do this. Is there a chart, somewhere?

ATB,
Danny

Answer
OK, this is VERY tricky to explain without going into many pages, but I will give it a try.  First, here are the answers:

June 21, 60 degrees
December 21, 14 degrees
Equinoxes, 37 degrees

On the Equinoxes, the highest Sun will be the complimentary angle of 90 degrees.  So, if your latitude is 53, the the Sun elevation on the Equinoxes is 37.

Now, the Summer Sun is 23 degrees higher than the Equinox so 37 plus 23 equals 60 degrees.

The Winter Sun is 23 degrees lower than the Equinox, so it will be at 14 degrees.

Your local planetarium can confirm this if you wish, although I may be a degree off.

Steve

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Steven LJ Russo

Expertise

As a space science educator in a planetarium, my work centers around teaching people about the night sky and the solar system. I have a strong background in those areas, plus the history of NASA and spaceflight, and meteorology.

Experience

Experience in the area. I have been an amateur astronomer for 47 years, and have been teachng space science in planetariums for 34 years. For 15 years I was a radio and television meteorologist, and for the past 20 years I have been a space science writer for two newspapers in New York State. I am a member of the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society and the International Planetarium Society. I have had a number of articles published in several astronomy journals, including "The Constellation" and the "Planetarian". Education/Credentials. I hold a B. S. from Wagner College and an M. S. from State University of New York at Oswego. Awards and Honors. I have been awarded the "Fellows" award from the International Planetarium Society for more than 20 years of continuous service in the planetarium field.

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