Tropic of Capricorn

n. The parallel of latitude 23°26′ south of the equator, the southern boundary of the Torrid Zone, and the most southerly latitude at which the sun can shine directly overhead.

trop•ic

(ˈtrɒp ɪk)

n. 1. a. either of two corresponding parallels of latitude on the terrestrial globe, one (tropic of Cancer) about 23½° N, and the other (tropic of Capricorn) about 23½° S of the equator, being the boundaries of the Torrid Zone. b. the tropics, the regions lying between and near these parallels of latitude; the Torrid Zone and neighboring regions. 2. either of two circles on the celestial sphere, one lying in the same plane as the tropic of Cancer, the other in the same plane as the tropic of Capricorn. adj. 3. of or pertaining to the tropics; tropical. [1350–1400; Middle English < Latin tropicus < Greek tropikós pertaining to a turn =tróp(os) turn + -ikos -ic]

-tropic

a combining form with the meanings “turned toward, with an orientation toward” that specified by the initial element (geotropic), “having an affinity for, affecting” what is specified (lipotropic), “affecting the activity of, maintaining” a specified organ (thyrotropic). Compare –trophic

Tropic of Capricorn

The parallel of latitude 23°27′ south of the equator. It forms the boundary between the Torrid Zone and the South Temperate Zone.

Thesaurus

Noun

Tropic of Capricorn - a line of latitude about 23 degrees to the south of the equator

Translations

Tropico del Capricorno

Tropic of Capricorn

Tropic of Capricorn,

parallel of latitude at 23°30' south of the equator; it is the southern boundary of the tropicstropics,
also called tropical zone or torrid zone, all the land and water of the earth situated between the Tropic of Cancer at lat. 23 1-2°N and the Tropic of Capricorn at lat. 23 1-2°S.
..... Click the link for more information. . This parallel marks the farthest point south at which the sun can be seen directly overhead at noon; south of the parallel the sun appears less than 90° from the northern horizon at any day of the year. The sun reaches its vertical position over the Tropic of Capricorn at about Dec. 22, the summer solsticesolstice
[Lat.,=sun stands still], in astronomy, either of the two points on the ecliptic that lie midway between the equinoxes (separated from them by an angular distance of 90°).
..... Click the link for more information. for the Southern Hemisphere. The term Capricorn comes from the Latin words caper [goat] and cornu [horn] and is the name given to one of the 12 constellations in the zodiaczodiac
[Gr. zoion=animal], in astronomy, zone of the sky that includes about 8° on either side of the ecliptic. The apparent paths of the sun, the moon, and the major planets all fall within this zone.
..... Click the link for more information. .

Tropic of Capricorn

[′träp·ik əv ′kap·ri‚kȯrn] (astronomy) A small circle on the celestial sphere connecting points with declination 23.45° south of the celestial equator, the southernmost declination of the sun. (geodesy) A parallel of latitude 23.45° south of the equator, marking the southernmost latitude at which the sun reaches its zenith.

Tropic of Capricorn

The southern parallel of declination, approximately 23°27' from the celestial equator, reached by the sun at its maximum declination, or the corresponding parallel on the earth. It is named for the sign of the zodiac during which the sun reached its maximum southerly declination. The Tropic of Capricorn runs through Australia, Chile, southern Brazil (Brazil is the only country that passes through both the equator and a tropic), and northern South Africa. See Tropic of Cancer.