Calculate the altitude of the Sun along the meridian on the first day of summer......?

Question

Calculate the altitude of the Sun along the meridian on the first day of summer for an observer at latitude 42 degrees north. What is the maximum altitude of the Sun on the first day of winter at the same altitude?

Answer 1

The altitude of the equator along the meridian is 90 - latitude.  For 42 degrees north that would be 48 degrees.  The Sun is 23.5 degrees north of the equator at the summer solstice, so the latitude would be 71.5 degrees north.  Subtract 23.5 degrees for the winter solstice, so the latitude would be 24.5 degrees north.