Standing at 40° latitude, you observe the Sun rising due east. What is the Sun's declination and the approximate date?

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Multiple Choice

Standing at 40° latitude, you observe the Sun rising due east. What is the Sun's declination and the approximate date?

Explanation:
Sunrise due east occurs when the Sun sits on the celestial equator, so its declination is zero. Declination is how far north or south the Sun is from that equator. When the Sun’s declination is zero, the day is an equinox, around March 21 and around September 23 (often approximated as March 21 and September 21/23). At any latitude—including 40°—the Sun rises due east on those dates. The other options put the Sun at ±23.5° declination, which happens at the solstices and causes sunrise to occur northeast or southeast, not due east.

Sunrise due east occurs when the Sun sits on the celestial equator, so its declination is zero. Declination is how far north or south the Sun is from that equator. When the Sun’s declination is zero, the day is an equinox, around March 21 and around September 23 (often approximated as March 21 and September 21/23). At any latitude—including 40°—the Sun rises due east on those dates. The other options put the Sun at ±23.5° declination, which happens at the solstices and causes sunrise to occur northeast or southeast, not due east.

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