Vacation on the Tropic of Cancer

One of the unique features of Solstice is that the Tropic of Cancer passes directly through the property. The Tropic of Cancer marks the furthest north that the sun ever shines directly overhead. This furthest northern extent of the sun occurs on about June 21st of every year, on the day called "the summer solstice."

This geographic oddity makes Solstice the perfect vacation spot for the amateur astronomer, geographer, trivia buff and literal or figurative sun worshiper. We have erected a sign on the property to mark the exact position of the Tropic of Cancer. Currently it is passing through the garden of Solstice.

The southernmost line where the sun is ever directly overhead is called the Tropic of Capricorn. The term "tropics" or "tropical" refers to the area of the globe between these two Tropics (of Cancer and Capricorn).

Details for the Real Geographic Nerd

The earth's tilt on its axis (also called the "obliquity of the ecliptic") is responsible for the different position of the sun in different seasons and it changes minutely from year-to-year. These changes are predictable and are caused by a wobble in the earth's rotation over a period of tens of thousands of years. Currently, the Tropic of Cancer is moving south at a rate of about 47 feet per year. If you look up the position of the Tropic of Cancer in reference books or on the internet, you will find many different answers depending on what year the data was compiled. Many "authoritative" sources have figures that are decades old. Below is a table showing the exact latitude of the Tropic of Cancer at the start of several years:

The Tropic of Cancer entered the Solstice property in 2005 and will depart in 2026, so book fast before it is gone!