Understanding Earth's Seasons

Front

What are Earth's seasons?

Back

Earth's seasons are the four distinct periods of the year (spring, summer, autumn, winter) caused by the tilt of Earth's axis and its orbit around the Sun.

Front

What causes the change of seasons on Earth?

Back

The change of seasons is caused by the tilt of Earth's axis (approximately 23.5 degrees) and its orbit around the Sun, leading to varying angles of sunlight.

Front

What is an equinox?

Back

An equinox is a point in the year when day and night are approximately equal in length, occurring in March and September.

Front

What is a solstice?

Back

A solstice is a point in the year when the Sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon, marking the longest and shortest days.

Front

When does the Northern Hemisphere experience summer?

Back

The Northern Hemisphere experiences summer from June to September.

Front

When does the Southern Hemisphere experience summer?

Back

The Southern Hemisphere experiences summer from December to March.

Front

What is perihelion?

Back

Perihelion is the point in Earth's orbit where it is closest to the Sun.

Front

What is aphelion?

Back

Aphelion is the point in Earth's orbit where it is farthest from the Sun.

Front

In which month does the Sun shine equally on both hemispheres?

Back

The Sun shines equally on both hemispheres in March during the vernal equinox.

Front

What happens during the June solstice in the Northern Hemisphere?

Back

During the June solstice, the Northern Hemisphere experiences the longest day of the year and the start of summer.