N1 Tropic of Capricorn Earthcache EarthCache
N1 Tropic of Capricorn Earthcache
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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."
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.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)