The Seasons
⭐ MasteredEarth's axis is tilted. As it orbits the Sun, different parts get more direct sunlight, causing spring, summer, autumn and winter. When it's summer in the north it's winter in the south.
Seasons are due to tilt, not distance from the Sun.
All about The Seasons
The seasons happen because Earth's axis is tilted by about 23. 5 degrees. As Earth orbits the Sun, each hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun for part of the year, which gives longer days and more direct sunlight. That hemisphere has summer, while the other has winter.
The seasons are not caused by Earth's distance from the Sun, which changes only slightly during the year.
When a hemisphere leans away from the Sun, it gets less direct sunlight, so its days are shorter and colder. The tilt, not the distance from the Sun, is the main reason for the seasons.
🎮 Try it yourself!
Loading…
👀 What the animation shows
This animation shows Earth orbiting the Sun with its tilted axis. Watch how the lit part of the planet changes as the tilt leans north and south, bringing summer and winter in turn.
Real-life uses of The Seasons
- Planning when to plant crops
- Understanding why days are longer in summer
- Explaining why seasons are opposite in different countries
Frequently asked questions about The Seasons
Why is it hotter in summer?
The Sun shines more directly and for longer each day, so the ground and air absorb more heat.
Are seasons caused by Earth moving closer to the Sun?
No. Earth is actually closest to the Sun in early January, during Northern Hemisphere winter.
What is the equinox?
A time in spring and autumn when day and night are roughly equal in length everywhere on Earth.