Tropic of Capricorn

For the novel by Henry Miller, see Tropic of Capricorn (novel). For the BBC TV series, see Tropic of Capricorn (BBC TV series).

World map showing the Tropic of Capricorn

Monument marking the Tropic of Capricorn just north of Antofagasta, Chile.

The Tropic of Capricorn, or Southern tropic, marks the most southerly latitude on the Earth at which the Sun can be directly overhead. This event occurs at the December solstice, when the southern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun to its maximum extent.

Tropic of Capricorn is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. It currently (Epoch 2011) lies 23° 26′ 16″ south of the Equator.

It is currently drifting north at the rate of almost half a second (0.47″) of latitude, which is about 15 metres, per year (it was at exactly 23° 27' S in year 1917).

Geography

The Tropic of Capricorn is the dividing line between the Southern Temperate Zone to the south and the tropics to the north. The northern hemisphere equivalent of the Tropic of Capricorn is the Tropic of Cancer.

The position of the Tropic of Capricorn is not fixed, but rather it varies in a complex manner over time; see under circles of latitude for information.

Longreach, Queensland, Australia.

Starting at the Prime Meridian and heading eastwards, the Tropic of Capricorn passes through:

Co-ordinates	Country, territory or sea	Notes
23°26′S 0°0′E	Atlantic Ocean
23°26′S 14°27′E	Namibia
23°26′S 20°0′E	Botswana	Kgalagadi District, Kweneng District and Central District
23°26′S 27°18′E	South Africa	Limpopo Province
23°26′S 31°33′E	Mozambique	Gaza and Inhambane provinces
23°26′S 35°26′E	Indian Ocean	Mozambique Channel
23°26′S 43°45′E	Madagascar	Toliara and Fianarantsoa provinces
23°26′S 47°39′E	Indian Ocean
23°26′S 113°47′E	Australia	Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland
23°26′S 151°3′E	Coral Sea	Passing just south of Cato Reef in Australia's Coral Sea Islands Territory
23°26′S 166°46′E	Pacific Ocean	Passing just north of the Minerva Reefs (Tonga), and just south of Tubuai (French Polynesia)
23°26′S 70°36′W	Chile	Antofagasta Region
23°26′S 67°07′W	Argentina	Jujuy, Salta, Jujuy (again) and Formosa provinces
23°26′S 61°23′W	Paraguay	Boquerón, Presidente Hayes, Concepción, San Pedro and Amambay departments
23°26′S 55°38′W	Brazil	Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraná, and São Paulo states
23°26′S 45°2′W	Atlantic Ocean

Places located along the Tropic of Capricorn

The following cities and landmarks are either located near the Tropic of Capricorn, or the tropic passes through them.

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Argentina Andes Mountains The Pampas San Salvador de Jujuy Australia Paraburdoo, Western Australia Newman, Western Australia Lake Disappointment, Western Australia Gibson Desert, Western Australia Alice Springs, Northern Territory Longreach, Queensland Great Dividing Range, Queensland Emerald, Queensland Gracemere, Queensland Rockhampton, Queensland Haast Bluff, Northern Territory Botswana Kalahari Desert Khutse Game Reserve Kule Mahalapye

Brazil Itaquaquecetuba Mogi das Cruzes Maringá São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport São Paulo Sorocaba Taguaí Ubatuba Chile Atacama Desert Andes Mountains Antofagasta Madagascar Toliara Mozambique Inhambane city Morrumbene Massinga

Namibia Walvis Bay Rehoboth Kalahari Desert Namib Desert Luderitz Paraguay Concepción South Africa Kruger National Park Polokwane Capricorn District Municipality Capricorn Archdeaconry in the Anglican Diocese of St Mark the Evangelist

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  The Tropic of Capricorn marked in Jujuy Province in northern Argentina

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  Monument marking the Tropic of Capricorn as it passes through Botswana

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  A sign marking the Tropic of Capricorn as it passes through Namibia

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  Roadway plaque marking the Tropic of Capricorn in the city of Santana do Parnaíba, Brazil, at the correct latitude for year 1917.

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  Roadside monument marking Tropic of Capricorn in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, 28 January 2005

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  Monument marking Tropic of Capricorn in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, 1970

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  Road sign marking Tropic of Capricorn in Western Australia, Australia, 26 August 2008

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  Monument marking the Tropic of Capricorn just north of Alice Springs, Australia

List of countries entirely south of the Tropic of Capricorn

As the major portion of earth's land is located in the Northern Hemisphere there are only four countries entirely south of the Tropic of Capricorn (there are 74 countries entirely north of the Tropic of Cancer):

• Uruguay
• Lesotho
• Swaziland
• New Zealand

Name

The Tropic of Capricorn is so named because about 2,000 years ago the sun was entering the constellation Capricornus (capricorn is Latin for goat horn) at the December solstice. In modern times the sun appears in the constellation Sagittarius during this time. The change is due to precession of the equinoxes. The word "tropic" itself comes from the Greek tropos, meaning turn, referring to the fact that the sun appears to "turn back" at the solstices.

Cultural significance

In India, the day of Sun entering the zodiacal belt Capricorn is celebrated as Makara Sankranti festival. Tropic of Capricorn is called Makara Vrutta in Indian languages. It should be noted here that the Indian astronomical calendar is not based on the Western sidereal system but has a differential lag. Hence, the festival is celebrated on either of 14th Jan or 15th Jan every year, when, as per the Indian astronomical calendar, the Sun enters the Capricorn sign.

See also

• 23rd parallel south
• 24th parallel south
• Tropic of Cancer
• Arctic Circle
• Antarctic Circle
• Axial tilt
• Equator
• Milankovitch cycles

External links

• Temporal Epoch Calculations
• Useful constants" See: Obliquity of the ecliptic