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N1 Tropic of Capricorn Earthcache EarthCache

Hidden : 01/16/2010
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:

This is the spot were the sun turn back once every year.



Very interesting granite boulders at site.





In this area granite (outcrops) The third foundation rock of the Limpopo is the ancient granites. These igneous rocks were formed about 3 billion years ago and are found over large parts of the Limpopo Province. This is also described as the Fundamental Complex, which forms the very foundation stone of the high South African plateau. Many of the granite outcrops, which provide the characteristic landscape of the African Savannah, belong to this formation.

This Tropic of Capricorn earthcache is located on the N1 where there is a monument on one of this granite boulders.



The Tropic of Capricorn, or Southern tropic, is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. It lies 23° 26' 22? south of the equator, and marks the most southerly latitude at which the sun can appear directly overhead at noon. This event occurs at the December solstice, when the southern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun to its maximum extent. The northern hemisphere equivalent of the Tropic of Capricorn is the Tropic of Cancer. Latitudes south of the Tropic of Capricorn are in the Southern Temperate Zone. The region north of the Tropic of Capricorn and south of the Tropic of Cancer is known as the tropics. The position of the Tropic of Capricorn is not fixed, but rather it varies in a complex manner over time; see under circles of latitude for information.

The Tropic of Capricorn is so named because about 2,000 years ago the sun was entering the constellation Capricornus (capricorn is Latin for goat horn) at the December solstice. In modern times the sun appears in the constellation Sagittarius during this time. The change is due to precession of the equinoxes. The word "tropic" itself comes from the Greek tropos, meaning turn, referring to the fact that the sun appears to "turn back" at the solstices.

Cultural significance: In India, the day of sun entering the zodiacal belt Capricorn is celebrated as Makara Sankranti festival. Tropic of Capricorn is called Makara Vrutta in Indian languages. A solstice is an astronomical event that happens twice each year, when the tilt of the Earth's axis is most inclined toward or away from the Sun, causing the Sun's apparent position in the sky to reach its northernmost or southernmost extreme. The name is derived from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), because at the solstices, the Sun stands still in declination; that is, the apparent movement of the Sun's path north or south comes to a stop before reversing direction. The term solstice can also be used in a broader sense, as the date (day) when this occurs. The solstices, together with the equinoxes, are connected with the seasons. In some cultures they are considered to start or separate the seasons while in others they fall in the middle.

To an observer in inertial space, the Earth is seen to rotate about an axis and revolve around the Sun in an elliptical path with the Sun at one focus. The Earth's axis is tilted with respect to the plane of the Earth's orbit and this axis maintains a position that changes little with respect to the background of stars. An observer on Earth therefore sees a solar path that is the result of both rotation and revolution. The component of the Sun's motion seen by an earthbound observer caused by the revolution of the tilted axis, which, keeping the same angle in space, is oriented toward or away from the Sun, is an observed diurnal increment (and lateral offset) of the elevation of the Sun at noon for approximately six months and observed daily decrement for the remaining six months. At maximum or minimum elevation the relative motion at 90° to the horizon stops and changes direction by 180°. The maximum is the summer solstice and the minimum is the winter solstice.

The path of the Sun, or ecliptic, sweeps north and south between the northern and southern hemispheres. The days are longer around the summer solstice and shorter around the winter solstice. When the Sun's path crosses the equator, the days and nights are of equal length; this is known as an equinox. There are two solstices and two equinoxes.

Capricorn is the tenth astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Capricornus. In western astrology, this sign is no longer aligned with the constellation as a result of the precession of the equinoxes. In astrology, Capricorn is considered a "feminine", negative (introvert) sign. It is also considered an earth sign and one of the four cardinal signs. Capricorn is ruled by the planet Saturn. Being the tenth sign of the zodiac, Capricorn has been associated with the astrological tenth house. Individuals born when the Sun was in this sign are considered Capricorn individuals. Under the tropical zodiac, the Sun enters Capricorn by definition at the moment of winter solstice, or roughly at December 22, and leaves it around January 20. Under the sidereal zodiac, it is currently there roughly from January 15 to February 15.

The Sanskrit name of Capricorn in Hindu astrology is Makara. Capricorn is sometimes depicted as a sea-goat, and sometimes as a terrestrial goat. The reasons for this are unknown, but the image of a sea-goat goes back at least to Babylonian times. "The symbol of the goat rising from the body of a fish represents with greatest propriety the mountainous buildings of Babylon rising out of its low and marshy situation; the two horns of the goat being emblematic of the two towns, Nineveh and Babylon, the former built on the Tigris, the latter on the Euphrates; but both subjected to one sovereignity."


Logging of an EarthCache:

Must involve visitors undertaking some educational task that relates to the Earth science at the site. This could involve measuring or estimating the size of some feature or aspect of the site, collecting and recording data (such as time of a tidal bore), or sending an e-mail to the cache owner with the answer to Earth science related questions they obtained by reading an information display. While photographs may be requested, they do not take the place of other logging requirements. Taking a photograph alone or asking people to do internet research does NOT meet these logging guidelines. Requests for specific content in the photograph (must include the visitor's face, for example) will be considered an additional logging requirement and must be optional. Cache owners may not delete the cache seeker's log based solely on optional tasks.

To Log your earthcache find, please do the following (answers by email please, not in your log): You can go ahead and log your find then email the answers to me within 7 days, if not your log will be deleted.

Click on hennieventer top of the page and Send Message

3 Site questions; 2 Internet questions; 1 Photo.

1.When the Sun's path crosses the equator, on the way to the Tropic of Capricorn, the days and nights are of equal length; What is this known as?

2.The monument is mounted on a granite outcrop. Look at the exposed granite. Describe from the “crystal” or grain size whether this rock cooled quickly (like a dolomite or obsidian with small grains) or more slowly to produce larger grains.(site questions)

3. Describe what the granite looks like (including texture and colours).(site questions)

4. Measure the lenth of the shaddow of the monument at the time of the day you visit the earth cache.(site questions)
If the gate are locked or there is no sunshine you may skip this one. Post a photo of locked gate or no sunshine

5.On what day do you calculate the shadow will be 100% under the monument at 12 noon? You can also find this info on the internet

6. Photo of you with your GPS at coordinates in front of Monument.

First to Find

Congratulations to:

Carbon Hunter




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