* 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.

* When a hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, it experiences summer: longer days, more direct sunlight, and warmer temperatures.

* When a hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, it experiences winter: shorter days, less direct sunlight, and colder temperatures.

* Earth's Distance from the Sun: While the Earth's orbit is slightly elliptical, the difference in distance from the sun throughout the year is not the primary cause of seasons. The Earth is actually closest to the sun in January (perihelion) and farthest in July (aphelion). This slight change in distance has a minimal impact on temperature compared to the tilt of the axis.

In short, the tilt of Earth's axis causes different parts of the planet to receive varying amounts of direct sunlight at different times of the year, leading to the distinct seasons we experience.