The subsolar point on a planet is where its sun is perceived to be directly overhead (in zenith), that is where the sun's rays are hitting the planet exactly perpendicular to its surface. It can also mean the point closest to the sun on an object in space, even though the sun might not be visible.
For planets with an orientation and rotation similar to the Earth's, the subsolar point will move westward, circling the globe once a day, but it will also move north and south between the tropics over the course of a year. The December solstice occurs when the subsolar point is on the Tropic of Capricorn and the June solstice is at the instant when the subsolar point is on the Tropic of Cancer. The March equinoxes and September equinoxes occur when the subsolar point is on the equator.
The subsolar point is frequently used in celestial navigation and the coordinates of the subsolar point at various times throughout the year (often every hour) can be found in a nautical almanac.
When the point passes through Hawaii, it is known as Lahaina Noon.
Famous quotes containing the word point:
““What we know, is a point to what we do not know.” Open any recent journal of science, and weigh the problems suggested concerning Light, Heat, Electricity, Magnetism, Physiology, Geology, and judge whether the interest of natural science is likely to be soon exhausted.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)