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MCQAdvancedCelestial Coordinates & Time

USAAAO — 2023 First Round

Question 25

Consider a hypothetical planet orbiting the Sun with an obliquity angle i (angle between the axis of rotation and the normal to the orbital plane). Assume that a year is much longer than a day for this planet. Define a tropical region in the planet as one where the Sun reaches the zenith at some time in its revolution period. Define a frigid region in the planet as one where there is a day when the Sun never rises. What is the minimum value of i for which there is a location on the planet which is both tropical and frigid?

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Source

USAAAO 2023 First Round. Question text, choices, and answer were transcribed from the official USAAAO exam and solutions PDFs.