Question

question: 28
two times during the year, the sun is directly over the equator. what are these times called?
o a equinoxes
o b. solstices
o c. eclipses
o d. capricorn and cancer

Explanation:

• Equinoxes: Occur when the Sun is directly over the equator. There are two equinoxes - vernal (March) and autumnal (September). Day and night are approximately equal in length.
• Solstices: Sun is at its most northern (summer solstice) or southern (winter solstice) position relative to the equator. Days are longest (summer solstice) or shortest (winter solstice).
• Eclipses: Occur when one celestial body moves into the shadow of another (e.g., lunar eclipse - Earth's shadow on Moon; solar eclipse - Moon's shadow on Earth).
• Capricorn and Cancer: Tropic of Capricorn ($23.5^{\circ}\text{S}$) and Tropic of Cancer ($23.5^{\circ}\text{N}$) are latitudes. Sun is overhead here during solstices (Cancer - northern summer solstice; Capricorn - southern summer solstice).

Answer:

A. equinoxes