The Sun’s High Arc Anomaly

   As discussions rage back and forth across the web about position of the Sun and Earth effects from the inbound planet, what observation could I perform that could erase some doubt? Many locations above 42 degrees North latitude are aware that the Sun is moving across the sky in a high arc and still setting in the northwest. To show this set up a narrow pole at least 125 centimeters long and use a level or plum line and T square to make sure it is in the vertical position. Take random measurements of the shadow in 5-minute intervals from 12:50 to 1:35pm (Daylight Savings Time) and use the shortest length. Measure the length of the pole in centimeters and then divide it by the length of the shadow in centimeters. Then find the inverse TAN to find the angle. In my area I had a pole length of 140 cm. and a shadow of 60 cm. yielding and angle of 66.8 degrees for the zenith of the Sun during the period July 24-25. So where is the problem? The location of my location is 43 degrees precisely North latitude and the summer solstice tilts the Earth to a maximum of 23.438705 degrees a total of 70.438705 degrees. So why is the Sun 66.8 degrees more than 34 days later when orbital movement would have reduced the tilt by 3.99 degrees bringing the angle to 66.45 degrees? What about measuring errors, has that been taken into consideration? The measurement in centimeters to produce an angle of 66.45 degrees is 61.019 centimeters a difference of 1.019 centimeters from my reading. The anomaly is small, but is significant, because in this world of precise science the arc of the sun is off.

To use the table subtract your latitude (use a geographic map) from 90 degrees add 23.438705 the find the maximum angle of the summer solstice then subtract the degrees in column 3 from that total and compare that reading to yours.

                    Table 1

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