Our Calendar
When is Summer Solstice?
June 21
How many degrees is the Earth tilted?
23.5 degrees
How many seasons does Earth have?
4
What causes the seasons?
The tilt of the Earth's axis and the orbit around the sun.
In Los Angeles, in which direction (other than up) do you look to see the sun?
To the south
When is Winter Solstice?
December 21
Which way is the Earth tilted in the summer?
Towards the sun
How many seasons are there on the equator?
2 - Wet and dry
What do some scientists believe caused the Earth to tilt on its axis?
A major impact of another planet impacted the early Earth, creating the moon and the Earth's tilt
If you were in Australia, in which direction would you look (other than up) to see the sun?
To the north
When is Vernal Equinox?
March 21
Which way is the Earth tilted in the winter?
Away from the sun
How many seasons are there on the poles?
4
Why is Moscow, Russia cold in the winter even when it has weeks of sunny weather?
The sun's light is less direct and the days are shorter.
Canada's far north has been called "The Land of the Midnight Sun." Why?
During the summer month (particularly summer solstice), the sun never sets.
When is Autumnal Equinox?
September 21
Which way is the earth tilted in the spring?
Neither towards or away from the sun.
If the Earth did not have an axial tilt, would we have seasons?
No
Suppose Earth's axis were tilted at 35° instead of 23.5°. How would this affect the seasons in North America?
Winter would be cooler, and summer would be warmer.
During the summer months in Canada's far north, the sun never sets. How does it rise and set, then?
It takes a wave like pattern across the sky. It almost touches the horizon then rises again.
When is Summer Solstice in Australia?
December 21
When the Earth is tilted toward the sun in the summer, which way is it tilted in the southern hemisphere (Australia)?
Away from the sun
Does every planet in the solar system has the same seasons as Earth?
No- different planets have different tilts. For example, Uranus is tilted at 90 degrees
What word does "equinox" come from?
Equal
When and where would you not see the sun rise?
The north pole at winter solstice.