Arctic circle

Arctic Circle

The Arctic Circle (pronunciation: /ˈɑːrktɪk ˈsɜːrkəl/) is one of the two polar circles and the most northerly of the five major circles of latitude as shown on maps of Earth. It marks the northernmost point at which the noon sun is just visible on the winter solstice and the southernmost point at which the midnight sun is just visible on the summer solstice.

Etymology

The term "Arctic" comes from the ancient Greek Arktikos, which means "near the Bear, northern" and that from the word Arktos, meaning bear. This is a reference to the constellation Ursa Major, the "Great Bear", which is prominent in the northern portion of the celestial sphere.

Related Terms

• Polar Circle: A polar circle is a geographic term for an imaginary line that circles the Earth at the latitudes of the Arctic Circle and the Antarctic Circle.
• Winter Solstice: The winter solstice, also known as midwinter, occurs when one of the Earth's poles has its maximum tilt away from the Sun.
• Summer Solstice: The summer solstice, also known as estival solstice or midsummer, occurs when one of the Earth's poles has its maximum tilt toward the Sun.
• Ursa Major: Ursa Major is a constellation in the northern sky, whose associated mythology likely dates back into prehistory.
• Midnight Sun: The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the summer months in places north of the Arctic Circle or south of the Antarctic Circle, when the Sun remains visible at the local midnight.

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