<p>They could be directly overhead if you live in the tropics. </p>

<p>The tropics are the regions near the equator, between 23 degrees North and 23 degrees south. In the tropics, the sun and the moon can pass directly overhead. If both pass overhead at the same time there will be a solar eclipse directly overhead.</p>

<p>The eclipse of <a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/mexico/tepic?iso=19910711" rel="noreferrer">July 11, 1991 was visible directly overhead</a>, (to within a degree) and in totality, for observers in the Nayarit province in Mexico</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-03T06:30:05.833Z
This is the correct answer and should be accepted
IlludiumPu36
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-03T14:13:49.840Z
Indeed, and a good example of that, is the eclipse of July 11, 1991, it was visible directly overhead, and in totality, for observers in the Nayarit province in Mexico
FSimardGIS
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-03T06:22:06.477Z
2018-08-03T14:39:53.530Z
2018-08-03T14:39:53.530Z
James K
<p>I have trouble picturing eclipses and whether the moon can be directly overhead.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-03T14:30:04.153Z
Define "directly overhead" -- presumably you mean Elevation of 90 degrees from your point of view?
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-03T14:44:43.223Z
The sun is *always* overhead *somewhere* on Earth.  So it must be overhead during eclipses, too.
Mark Olson
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-04T14:00:56.403Z
@MarkOlson well, that does not need to be the place where the moon's umbra (or even the penumbra) is.
Glorfindel
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-04T14:17:10.403Z
@Glorfindel Fair enough, but some eclipses are central and those will be overhead somewhere.  I don't *think* the questions was where all eclipses must be overhead somewhere, but whether any are.
Mark Olson
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-05T09:06:38.440Z
When I first travelled to the tropics, I was expecting to see the Sun directly overhead at some point.  I hadn't thought about the Moon.  I experienced this first and was surprised for a moment before  thinking: well, of course, that was going to happen as well.
badjohn
<the-moon>
Can a solar eclipse be directly overhead?
autoamerican
# Can a solar eclipse be directly overhead?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-08-03)

I have trouble picturing eclipses and whether the moon can be directly overhead.

**Tags:** the-moon

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Define "directly overhead" -- presumably you mean Elevation of 90 degrees from your point of view?  
> **username_2**: The sun is *always* overhead *somewhere* on Earth.  So it must be overhead during eclipses, too.  
> **username_3**: @username_2 well, that does not need to be the place where the moon's umbra (or even the penumbra) is.  
> **username_2**: @username_3 Fair enough, but some eclipses are central and those will be overhead somewhere.  I don't *think* the questions was where all eclipses must be overhead somewhere, but whether any are.  
> **username_4**: When I first travelled to the tropics, I was expecting to see the Sun directly overhead at some point.  I hadn't thought about the Moon.  I experienced this first and was surprised for a moment before  thinking: well, of course, that was going to happen as well.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2018-08-03. Score: 10 | Accepted answer

They could be directly overhead if you live in the tropics.

The tropics are the regions near the equator, between 23 degrees North and 23 degrees south. In the tropics, the sun and the moon can pass directly overhead. If both pass overhead at the same time there will be a solar eclipse directly overhead.

The eclipse of [July 11, 1991 was visible directly overhead](https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/mexico/tepic?iso=19910711), (to within a degree) and in totality, for observers in the Nayarit province in Mexico

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: This is the correct answer and should be accepted  
> **username_7**: Indeed, and a good example of that, is the eclipse of July 11, 1991, it was visible directly overhead, and in totality, for observers in the Nayarit province in Mexico  

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