astronomy or math wizards? does this make sense?
 

Does this make sense? im trying to find the maximum altitude of the sun on the winter solstice (dec 21) at 40 degrees latitude..

MY ANSWER:
On the winter solstice the maximum altitude of the sun is at the zenith (90 degrees) at the latitude of 23.44 south. That means to find the maximum altitude of the sun at the equator you would subtract 23.44 degrees from the zenith and get 66.56 degrees. Likewise, to find the maximum altitude of the sun at latitude 40 degrees north, you would subtract 40 more degrees making the maximum altitude of the sun at the winter solstice 26.56 degrees.

I predict this thread will get no replies :thumbsup

Sounds right to me, considering that the distance between sun-earth is a lot bigger than their diameter.
But it's only a approximation, i.e. just imagine that the earth would have a diameter of let's say 80 million miles, then it would bring totally different results.

But as it's in reality your app. should be good enough :)

This thread made me hungry. I think all that talk of the sun reminded me of summer BBQ's and sizzling steaks. Mmmmmmmm, steeaaaak.

congrats you just discovered the tilted plane of the earth which is
23.5, not 23.44

Math makes me horny. Then again so does everything else. Except black people.