At what point is the vertical ray of sunlight located during the autumnal equinox?

During the autumnal equinox, which occurs around September 23rd each year, the vertical ray of sunlight is positioned directly over the equator. This is due to the tilt of the Earth's axis and its orbit around the Sun. On this date, both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres receive approximately equal amounts of sunlight, resulting in nearly equal day and night lengths.

At the equator, the Sun shines directly overhead at noon, meaning the angle of sunlight is at its most direct. This phenomenon only occurs twice a year, during the equinoxes—once in autumn and once in spring. The other locations mentioned, such as the Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° S), receive the vertical rays of the Sun at the summer and winter solstices, respectively. Meanwhile, the North Pole experiences continuous daylight during the summer months but is not where the sunlight is directly overhead during the equinox. Thus, the correct response is that the vertical ray of sunlight is located at the equator during the autumnal equinox.