* Earth's Tilt: Our planet is tilted on its axis at approximately 23.5 degrees. This tilt means that different parts of the Earth receive varying amounts of direct sunlight throughout the year.
* Summer: When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, it receives more direct sunlight, resulting in longer days and warmer temperatures. This is summer in the North.
* Winter: When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, it receives less direct sunlight, resulting in shorter days and colder temperatures. This is winter in the North.
Earth's Orbit and Distance:
While Earth's orbit around the Sun is not perfectly circular, it's actually quite close to being an ellipse. This means there are slight variations in the distance between Earth and the Sun throughout the year.
* Perihelion: Earth is closest to the Sun in early January (perihelion).
* Aphelion: Earth is farthest from the Sun in early July (aphelion).
The difference in distance between perihelion and aphelion is not significant enough to cause the seasons. The tilt of the Earth's axis is the primary reason for the changing seasons.
