Earth and Sun Relationship

Seasons
It is winter in the Northern Hemisphere
when we are closest to the sun.
It is summer in the Northern Hemisphere
when the sun is farthest away from the
sun.
It is NOT distance from the sun that causes
seasons.

Like all planets in our solar system, the Earth is in an elliptical orbit around our Sun.
In Earth's case, its orbit is nearly circular, so that the difference between Earth's
farthest point from the Sun and its closest point is very small. Earth's orbit defines
a two-dimensional plane which we call the ecliptic.
It takes roughly 365 days for the Earth to go around the Sun once. This means that
the Earth is rushing through space around the Sun at a rate of about 67,000 miles
per hour! The time it takes for the Earth to go around the Sun one full time is what
we call a year.
The combined effect of the Earth's orbital motion and the tilt of its rotation axis
result in the seasons.

Rotation and Revolution

Earth rotates on its axis (counter clockwise)
It takes one day, 24 hours to complete one rotation
As Earth rotates, half of the Earth is always
illuminated by the sun and half of the Earth is always
dark.

Earth revolves around the sun (also counter

clockwise)
It takes one year, 365 days, to complete one
revolution

Earths Axial Tilt=23.5

The tilt of Earths axis one of the two reasons for the seasons
Imagine if Earth was not tilted. The suns rays would always
strike the Earth most directly at the equator, and the subsolar
point would always be the equator. Earth would receive a
consistent intensity of solar radiation and there would be no
seasons.

The earth's tilt determines the angle that the sun's rays strike the surface.

Axial Tilt
One hemisphere is always in the process of tilting
towards the sun
In June, the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun
In December, it is tilted away, and it is the opposite for the
southern hemisphere

The opposite hemisphere is tilting away

Tilt and orientation do not change

The position of the Earth relative to the sun changes as

its orbit progresses
Has the effect of moving each hemisphere either towards or
away from the suns rays
Movement of hemispheres towards or away from the sun causes
seasons
This results in the migration of the subsolar point 23.5 north or
south of the equator

Equinox and Solstice Conditions

Equinox-when the subsolar point is at the
equator and all locations on the earth
experience equal hours of daylight and
darkness
Solstice-when the sun angle is at 90 at
either end of the tropic boundaries.
Topic of Cancer 23.5 N
Tropic of Capricorn 23.5 S

Solstices and Equinoxes

Spring (Vernal) Equinox

March 20-21
Subsolar point at Equator
Circle of illumination extends to
both poles

September 22-23
Subsolar point at the equator
again
Equal hours of day and light at all
locations

Summer Solstice
June 20-21
Northern hemisphere tilts towards
the sun
Southern hemisphere tilts away
Subsolar point=Tropic of Cancer
23.5 N
Above 66.5 N=24 hours of
daylight (Land of the Midnight
Sun)
66.5 S to 90 S= 0 hours of
sunlight (tilted away from the sun)

Fall (Autumnal) Equinox

N or S hemisphere not tilted

towards the sun

Winter Solstice
December 21-22
Northern hemisphere tilted away
from the sun
Southern Hemisphere tilted
towards the sun
Subsolar point at 23.5 S, Tropic
of Capricorn
Above 66.5 N, 24 hours of
darkness

1. Summer Season

4. Spring Season

3. Winter Season

2. Autumn Season