Have you ever wondered, “Where Is The Sun positioned over the Earth at this very moment?” It’s a fascinating question that touches upon geography, astronomy, and our daily experience of day and night. This article will explore the sun’s current location relative to our planet, shedding light on the concept of the subsolar point and how it dictates day and night across the globe.
To visualize this, consider the map below, illustrating the Earth’s day and night sides in real-time. This dynamic map also pinpoints the subsolar point, the precise location where the sun is directly overhead.
This map provides a snapshot of our planet at UTC time = Saturday, March 1, 2025, 03:26:00. You can use the links provided to jump to different times and dates, exploring how the day and night line shifts as Earth rotates and revolves around the sun.
Understanding the symbols on the map is key to interpreting the information presented. The map uses different shades to represent various stages of twilight and night:
- Civil Twilight (lightest shade)
- Nautical Twilight
- Astronomical Twilight
- Night, no twilight (darkest shade)
These twilight zones highlight the gradual transition from day to night and vice versa, influenced by the scattering of sunlight in the Earth’s atmosphere.
The Subsolar Point: Pinpointing Where the Sun is Directly Overhead
The subsolar point is the geographical location on Earth where the sun is perceived to be directly overhead, at a 90-degree angle or zenith. This point is crucial because it receives the most direct sunlight, leading to the highest solar intensity. As the Earth rotates, this subsolar point moves across the globe, causing sunrise, midday, and sunset in different regions.
According to our data for Saturday, March 1, 2025, 03:26:00 UTC, the Position of the Sun: Subsolar Point is located at:
| Latitude: | 7° 31′ | South |
|---|---|---|
| , | Longitude: | 131° 35′ |
At this precise moment, the sun is directly overhead at this location in the Southern Hemisphere. The sun’s ground speed, relative to this point, is approximately 459.93 meters per second, or 1655.8 kilometers per hour (1028.8 miles per hour). This speed reflects the Earth’s rotation.
The following table illustrates how the sun’s position changes over time, relative to the given time and date:
| Time | Longitude Difference | Latitude Difference | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Later | Degrees | Distance | Direction |
| 1 minute | 0° 15′ 00.1″ | 27,60 km | West |
| 1 hour | 15° 00′ 07.2″ | 1655,68 km | West |
| 24 hours | 0° 02′ 57.4″ | 5,44 km | West |
This data shows the minute-by-minute and hour-by-hour shift of the sun’s subsolar point, highlighting the dynamic nature of the sun’s apparent movement across the sky due to Earth’s rotation.
Locations Experiencing Sun Near Zenith
While the subsolar point marks the precise location of the sun’s zenith, many surrounding areas experience the sun very high in the sky. The table below lists 10 locations where the sun is currently near its zenith:
| Location | Local Time | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darwin | Sa 12:56 | 553 km | 344 miles |
| Ambon | Sa 12:26 | 567 km | 352 miles |
| Baucau | Sa 12:26 | 575 km | 358 miles |
| Dili | Sa 12:26 | 672 km | 418 miles |
| Same | Sa 12:26 | 674 km | 419 miles |
| Suai | Sa 12:26 | 725 km | 450 miles |
| Manokwari | Sa 12:26 | 785 km | 488 miles |
| Kupang | Sa 11:26 | 927 km | 576 miles |
| Sofifi | Sa 12:26 | 1017 km | 632 miles |
| Kendari | Sa 11:26 | 1077 km | 669 miles |
This table provides a practical understanding of where midday is occurring around the globe relative to the subsolar point. The distances and directions indicate how far and in what direction these locations are from the point where the sun is exactly at its zenith.
Understanding where the sun is at any given time helps us grasp the dynamics of day and night, solar intensity, and the Earth’s rotation. Resources like the day and night map and subsolar point data offer valuable insights into these fascinating aspects of our planet and its relationship with the sun.
= The Moon’s position at its zenith in relation to an observer (Moon phase is not shown).
