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Axis Tilt and Earth's Seasons

AstronomyScienceSeasons
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The Seasons

Diagram of Earth's seasons

The Earth’s seasons are not caused by the differences in the distance from the Sun throughout the year (these differences are extremely small). The seasons are the result of the tilt of the Earth’s axis.

The Earth’s axis is tilted from perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic by 23.45°. This tilting is what gives us the four seasons of the year - spring, summer, autumn (fall) and winter. Since the axis is tilted, different parts of the globe are oriented towards the Sun at different times of the year.

Summer is warmer than winter (in each hemisphere) because the Sun’s rays hit the Earth at a more direct angle during summer than during winter and also because the days are much longer than the nights during the summer. During the winter, the Sun’s rays hit the Earth at an extreme angle, and the days are very short. These effects are due to the tilt of the Earth’s axis.

Solstices

The solstices are days when the Sun reaches its farthest northern and southern declinations. The winter solstice occurs on December 21 or 22 and marks the beginning of winter (this is the shortest day of the year). The summer solstice occurs on June 21 and marks the beginning of summer (this is the longest day of the year).

Equinoxes

Equinoxes are days in which day and night are of equal duration. The two yearly equinoxes occur when the Sun crosses the celestial equator.

The vernal equinox occurs in late March (this is the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of fall in the Southern Hemisphere); the autumnal equinox occurs in late September (this is the beginning of fall in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of spring in the Southern Hemisphere).

Activites and Pages about Seasons

Label-Me! Seasons Printout
Label-Me! Seasons Printout

In this printable worksheet, write the name of the seasons (summer, autumn, winter, and spring) on the right tree.

Label the Seasons in English
Label the Seasons in English

In this printable worksheet, use the word bank to label the seasons in English.

The Seasons Activities
The Seasons Activities

The Seasons Activities: rhymes, printouts, crafts, information, and coloring pages, and printouts related to the seasons.

Seasons Word Pieces Puzzle
Seasons Word Pieces Puzzle

Seasons Word Pieces Puzzle - Make seasons-related words from word segments: autumn, axis, equinox, fall, seasons, solstice, spring, summer, tilt, vernal, winter, year.

Solstice
Solstice

Solstice: A printout about the winter and summer solstice.

Earth's Seasons Quiz - Zoom Astronomy

Earth’s Seasons Quiz: The seasons on Earth are caused by the tilt of the Earth’s axis.

Leap Year
Leap Year

Leap Year. Read about what a leap year is, why we have leap years, and how often we have a leap year.

Other Links:
You Might Also Like:
The Sun at Two Solstices
Earth's Seasons Quiz - Zoom Astronomy
Leap Year
Solstice
Seasons Word Pieces Puzzle
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