Naming the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn
An interesting question appeared on the Geography Forum, "How did the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn get their names?"
The answer is that The Tropic of Cancer was named because at the time of its naming, the sun was positioned in the Cancer constellation during the June solstice. Likewise, the Tropic of Capricorn was named because the sun was in the constellation Capricorn during the December solstice.
The naming took place about 2000 years ago and the sun is no longer in those constellations At the June solstice, the sun is in Taurus and at the December solstice, the sun is in Sagittarius.
The answer is that The Tropic of Cancer was named because at the time of its naming, the sun was positioned in the Cancer constellation during the June solstice. Likewise, the Tropic of Capricorn was named because the sun was in the constellation Capricorn during the December solstice.
The naming took place about 2000 years ago and the sun is no longer in those constellations At the June solstice, the sun is in Taurus and at the December solstice, the sun is in Sagittarius.
