Question

What causes the position of the noon sun to vary by up to 47 degrees over a year's time?

Answer 1

The cause is the obliquity `23.4^o`of the Earth's polar axis..

Explanation:

At any latitude, the angle of incidence of light rays from the Sun

oscillates about a mean value, with amplitude `23.4^o`. The

period for this oscillation is 1 year.

For equatorial locations, the annual mean of the angle of incidence

of light rays at noon is `0^o`. This instant is called an equinox.

Answer 2

Axial tilt and orbital motion of earth causes the Sun to appear 23.5 degree north and south for us.

Explanation:

Aparant path of Sun among the strs in sky.23.5 degree north and south in one years.
picture credit astrobob.com