Seasons

The Earth's spin axis is tilted, and it keeps pointing the same way in space all year. So as the Earth goes around the Sun, first one half and then the other leans toward the Sun - getting a higher Sun and longer days. That half has summer while the other half has winter.

Depth 1 · Foundation

You can explain the seasons by the Earth's tilt, not its distance from the Sun, and why the north and south have opposite seasons.

Depths of understanding

1
Foundation
You can explain the seasons by the Earth's tilt, not its distance from the Sun, and why the north and south have opposite seasons.
Read it
- SeasonsAstronomy Level 1
Opens after
Day and nightSummer days are long and winter days short - to see why, you first need to know what makes day and night.The yearThe seasons come round once a year because they follow the Earth's trip around the Sun.

Your path here

What's still between you and Seasons, depth 1, in the order you can learn it.

Where it fits

Builds on

Day and night The year

This concept

SeasonsThe Sky

Builds onThis conceptDay and night The year SeasonsThe Sky

Makes these deeper

Once you know Seasons, come back to these — they'll mean more.

Day and nightDepth 2Why are summer days long and winter days short? The answer is the Earth's tilted axis, which you meet in Seasons.