Kolkata and the Noon Sun: It Does NOT Pass Directly Overhead — Only Places on the Tropic of Cancer Do

Correction: Kolkata Does Not Experience Zenith Sun

Kolkata (22°34′N) is south of the Tropic of Cancer (23°26′N). Therefore, the sun is **never directly overhead at noon** in Kolkata. The original premise is geographically incorrect.

The Rule: Zenith Sun Only Between the Tropics

The sun reaches the zenith (90° altitude) at solar noon **only for locations between the Tropic of Cancer (23°26′N) and Tropic of Capricorn (23°26′S)**. This happens twice a year at each latitude—on the dates when the sun's declination equals that latitude.

What Actually Happens in Kolkata

• Summer solstice (~Jun 21): Sun's declination = 23°26′N. Kolkata (22°34′N) is 0°52′ south of that. Noon sun altitude = 90° – 0°52′ = **89°08′** — very high, but **not overhead**.
• Winter solstice (~Dec 22): Sun's declination = 23°26′S. Noon altitude = 90° – (22°34′ + 23°26′) = **44°** — much lower.

Places in India That *Do* Get Zenith Sun

Cities **on or near the Tropic of Cancer** (passes through 8 Indian states):

• Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad (Gujarat)
• Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) — famous for Mahakaleshwar Temple, zenith observation
• Bhopal (MP)
• Ranchi (Jharkhand)
• Kolkata? **No** — it's south of the line.

Ahmedabad (23°01′N) vs. Kolkata (22°34′N)

Ahmedabad *almost* gets zenith sun (within 25′). Kolkata *does not*. The source claiming both do is wrong. Delhi (28°41′N) is far north—never close.

Takeaway

Latitude determines zenith sun. Kolkata misses it by ~50 km. Check a map: Tropic of Cancer runs through Gujarat, Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal (north of Kolkata), Tripura, Mizoram. Kolkata is just south of the line.