Seasons and the Sun’s Path
Solstices, equinoxes, the tilt of Earth’s axis and how the length of the day changes.
- Summer SolsticeAt the June solstice, Earth's axis leans the Northern Hemisphere as far toward the Sun as it ever goes, so the noon Sun stands highest there.
- Winter SolsticeAt the December solstice, Earth's axis leans the Northern Hemisphere as far from the Sun as it ever goes, so the day is shortest and the noon Sun...
- Spring EquinoxAt the March equinox the Sun stands over the equator and day and night come out nearly equal, though not exactly.
- Autumn EquinoxThe September equinox is one moment, and it lands on different calendar days in different time zones.
- Earth’s Axial TiltEarth's axis leans about 23.4 degrees from the perpendicular to its orbit.
- Why Day Length ChangesDay length is set by two things, where you are and what day it is.
- The Midnight SunThe midnight Sun happens north of the Arctic Circle, where Earth's tilt keeps the Sun above the horizon for a whole day.
- The Sun’s Height at NoonThe Sun's height at noon follows one rule: 90 degrees minus your latitude at the equinox, then up or down by the tilt at the solstices.
- Perihelion and AphelionEarth is closest to the Sun around January 3, in the middle of northern winter.