Quote:
Originally Posted by jackierudetsky
How about if the world were tilted at 10 degrees instead of at 23.44 degrees like the way it currently is?
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Thank you for the question! The answer is really simple:
If the Earth was not tilted, the sun angle would be the same year round, for example, at 45 °N the sun angle at noon would be 45 °, while the sun angle at midnight would be -45°.
At 30 °N, the sun angle would be 60° at noon and -60° at midnight.
If the Earth was tilted at 10 degrees, things would change.
At 45 °N the sun angle at noon during the summer solstice would be 55°, and -35° at midnight. During the winter solstice it would be 35° at noon and -55° at midnight.
At 30 °N the sun angle at noon during the summer solstice would be 70°, and -50° at midnight. I think you got it.
If the Earth was tilted at 30 degrees, a place at 45 °N would get 75° at noon during the summer solstice and -15° at midnight; 15° at noon in the winter and -75° at midnight.
Because the Earth is tilted at 23° 27', a place at 45 °N will get 68° 27' at noon during the summer solstice, and -21° 33' at midnight, while in winter: 21° 33' at noon and -68° 27' at midnight.
At the arctic circle (66° 33'N) in summer it's 46° 54' at noon and 0° at midnight, while in winter it's 0° at noon and -46° 54' at midnight. I hope it's not too confusing.
Please remember that even if the sun angle is below zero you can still see.
0°/-6°: Civil Twilight: It's bright enough to read
-6/-12: Nautical Twilight: You can discern the horizon
-12/-18: Astronomical Twilight: (I don't know how to explain)
Below -18: Total darkness
Places south of 72° 33'N always experience days bright not less than the civil twilight.