Earth-Sun Relationships

Earth

The Sun

Star that is 93 million miles away from earth

Rotation causes day and night.

• Spinning of the Earth on its imaginary axis.

• 24 hours

The revolution of the Earth around the sun

• 365 ¼ days

• Seasons due to its tilt during revolution (23.5 degrees).

A - Summer in the Northern HemisphereB - Summer in the Southern Hemisphere

SolsticesSolstices• Twice a year, when the tilt of the Earth's is directly towards or

away from the Sun

• Winter Solstice - December 21 - beginning of winter.

• Summer Solstice -June 21 - beginning of summer

Equinoxes

Sunlight strikes the earth most directly at the equator.

Spring Equinox - March 21

Fall Equinox - September 23

The Four Seasons: The Effect of the Tilt of Earth’s Rotation Axis

Affected by relative position of the sun and the Earth

1. Climate

2. Seasons

3. Day and Night