Figure 1-16The Sun’s Daily Path and the Energy It Deposits Here Northern Hemisphere: (a) On the winter solstice—the first day of winter—the Sun rises farthest south of east, is lowest in the noontime sky, stays up the shortest time, and its light and heat are least intense (most spread out) of any day of the year in the northern hemisphere. (b) On the vernal equinox—the first day of spring—the Sun rises precisely in the east and sets precisely in the west. Its light and heat have been growing more intense, as shown by the brighter oval of light than in (a). (c) On the summer solstice—the first day of summer—the Sun rises farthest north of east of any day in the year, is highest in the noontime sky, stays up the longest time, and its light and heat are most intense of any day in the northern hemisphere. (d) On the autumnal equinox, the same astronomical conditions exist as on the vernal equinox. Southern Hemisphere: If you are reading this in the southern hemisphere, make the following changes: (a) Change December 22 to June 21 and visualize the Sun’s path starting and ending the same distance north of east and north of west as it is south of east and south of west as shown here; (b) change March 20 to September 23; (c) change June 21 to December 21 and visualize the Sun’s path starting and ending the same distance south of east and south of west as shown north of east and north of west here; (d) change September 22 to March 20.