In the northern hemisphere, southern exposure is the sunlight side. Southern hemisphere = northern exposure?

Question

In the northern hemisphere, southern exposure is the sunlight side. Southern hemisphere = northern exposure?

Answer 1

Hi Rolo!

You're right.

In the Southern Hemisphere (more precisely, in the south temperate zone) the sun rises in the east and moves across the northern sky.

Interestingly, the sun there moves from right to left, differing from us in the Northern Hemisphere where the sun moves left to right.

Between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, it's a bit more complicated.  Suppose you were on the equator.  There, the days are always twelve hours long, but the sun still moves north and south with the seasons, like everyplace else.  

In March and September, the run rises due east and climbs directly overhead.  In June, though, the sun rises in the northeast and climbs well up in the northern sky.  Like in the Southern Hemisphere, places with a northern exposure get the sun.

In December it's reversed.  With the sun in the constellation Sagittarius, it rises in the southeast and moves high up in the southern sky.  At that time of year, in equatorial regions, a southern exposure is the sunlight side.

In December, on the equator, you're looking south to follow the sun, so it moves across the sky from left to right.  In June, though, you'll be looking north, so it moves from right to left!

Answer 2

Yes, of course. However, within the tropics, it's possible for a building in the northern hemisphere to be lit on the north side, and for one in the southern hemisphere to be lit on the south side. It depends on the time of year.