Decoding the Analemma: The Sun’s Path Explained

Rapid Summary

• The daily motion of the sun includes rising in the east, reaching its peak around noon, and setting in the west.
• Annually, in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun’s position moves higher until June solstice and lower after December solstice due to Earth’s axial tilt.
• A figure-eight pattern called “analemma” is formed if one photographs the sun from a fixed location at the same time each day for a year.
• Analemma results from Earth’s axial tilt (23.5 degrees) and elliptical orbit combining to create north-south (height) and east-west (lag/lead) motions of the sun relative to clock-based time (“mean sun”).
• Earth’s tilt affects seasonal changes-north-south variations correspond with higher summer paths or lower winter paths-moving ±47 degrees alternate across years. Elliptical orbit impacts east-west asymmetry due to speed differences between perihelion (closest approach) and aphelion (farthest distance).
• Planet-specific analemmas differ: Mars’ teardrop shape dominates from high orbital ellipticity; Neptune achieves symmetrical shapes thanks both its slight eccentricity 28-degree complex tilt toward greater uniformity pleasingly balances.

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Indian Opinion Analysis

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