The Arctic Home in the Vedas c6.23

c6.23

Similar modifications will be introduced in the duration of day and night, when the observer's position is shifted to the south of the terrestrial North Pole. This will be clear by a reference to the figure on the next page. Let *P* be the celestial North Pole, and *Q'Q* the celestial equator. Then since the sun moves in the ecliptic *E'E*, which is inclined at an angle of about 23½° (23° 28') to the equator, the circles *T'E* and *E'T* will correspond with the terrestrial circles of latitude, called the Tropics, and the circle *AC* with the Arctic Circle on the terrestrial globe. Now as the sun moves in the ecliptic *E'E*, in his annual course he will always be twice over-head for an observer stationed at a place within the terrestrial tropical zone, once in his course from E' to E, and again in his return, from E to E'. The sun will also appear for some time to the north of the observer's zenith, and for the rest of the year to the south. But as the altitude of the sun above the equator is never greater than 23½° or EQ, an observer whose zenith lies to the north of the circle T'E, will always see the sun to the south of his zenith, and the zenith distance of the sun will be greater and greater as the observer advances towards the North Pole. But still the sun will be above the horizon every day, for some hours at least, to an observer whose zenith lies between T'E and AC.