Earth has seasons because it revolves around the Sun on a tilted axis.
Solstice
A solstice is an event that happens twice each year when the Sun reaches its highest position in the sky as seen from the North or South Pole. During a solstice it is either the "longest day of the year" or the "shortest day of the year" for the Northern or Southern Hemisphere around June 21 and December 22.
- The June Solstice happens when the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth is tilted toward the Sun at its maximum and the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth is tilted away from the Sun at its maximum. This is causes the longest day in the North and the shortest day in the South.
- The December Solstice happens when the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth is tilted toward the Sun at its maximum and the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth is tilted away from the Sun at its maximum. This causes the shortest day in the North and the longest day in the South.
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Topic Tips
- A solstice is either the longest day of the year or the shortest day of the year for any place on Earth as a result of Earth's tilt as it revolves around the Sun.
- Both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres experience an opposite solstice twice a year.
- Solstices occur during the winter and summer seasons.
- On a two dimensional diagram the solstice positions are typically represented on the left and right.