Week 2 - Problem Set

Due Date: June 22, 2021

1 Visualizing the Analemmas

1. Throughout the year, how many times is the equation of time equal to zero? Neglecting the
eccentricity of the Earth’s orbit, when exactly is the equation of time equal to zero?
2. Why isn’t the minimum value of the equation of time on Earth exactly the opposite of the
maximum value? Describe a situation in which the minimum value of the equation of time
would be exactly the opposite of the maximum value.
3. How would the analemma of the Sun look like if the obliquity of the ecliptic were twice as large
as it is now? Assume that nothing else about the Earth’s orbit would change.
4. How would the analemma of the Sun look like if both the eccentricity and the obliquity of the
Sun’s orbit were equal to zero.
5. What would be the analemma of the Sun if its obliquity (angle between the Ecliptic and the
Equator) were equal to zero but its eccentricity remained equal to 0.0167?

2 Calculations
1. The reason why the true Sun is able to catch up with the mean Sun is that as if gets further
from the Equator, the radius of its ”horizontal” (by horizontal, I mean in the right ascension
direction) component gets smaller. Considering that the obliquity of the Ecliptic is equal to
23.45o , what is the smallest radius for the horizontal component of the true Sun throughout its
trajectory.

2. Using spherical trigonometry, derive a formula to calculate the right ascension of the true Sun
as a function of its ecliptic longitude and the obliquity of the Ecliptic. Also derive a similar
formula for the declination of the true Sun as a function of the same parameters.