What Is Latitude?

Astronomy - Question: altitude of the sun at 34 degrees north latitude, what altitude is the sun at noon for?

• At 34 degrees north latitude, what altitude is the sun at noon for December 21? Please tell me how to find this answer, thank you =) I think it means declination. I have -23.5 in December. Is that correct? Would you add -23.5 to 56 degrees? +32.5? Additional Details This is an astronomy question that should be done by hand, we do not get sources. I wish to know how to mathematically do it. Noon, dec. 21, and 34 degrees N. latitude is the only information I got.

• Answer:

  Think of it as an object at declination -23.5º being overhead at latitude -23.5º. Therefore, at the equator, the observer has moved 23.5º north and the object (the Sun) has therefore moved 23.5º from the overhead position and is now at an altitude of (90º - 23.5º) = 66.5º. Move another 34º north and the Sun has decreased in altitude by a further 34º. Its altitude is now (90º - 23.5º - 34º) = 32.5º. This final formula is effectively the same as yours and you have the correct answer.