A short introduction to equinoxes and solstices.

Equinoxes and Solstices

THE EARTH IS TILTED AS IT ORBITS THE SUN,

CAUSING THE SUN TO HIT THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN HEMISPHERES AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE YEAR.

THIS IS HOW WE GET SEASONS!

ALSO KNOWN AS AEQUUSNOX, OR "EQUAL NIGHT." THE SUN WILL LOOK LIKE IT IS DIRECTLY ABOVE THE EQUATOR. OR, IT WILL BE VERY LOW ON THE HORIZON AT THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN HEMISPHERES. DURING THIS TIME AT THE EQUATOR, THE SUN WILL REACH THE ZENITH, OR ITS HIGHEST POINT ABOVE US.

ALSO KNOWN AS WINTER IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE OR SUMMER IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. THIS SOLSTICE OCCURS ON DECEMBER 21 OR 22. THE EARTH'S TILT MAKES THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE POINTED AS FAR FROM THE SUN AS POSSIBLE, GIVING THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE ITS SHORTEST DAY OF THE YEAR.

ALSO KNOWN AS SUMMER IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE OR WINTER IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. THIS SOLSTICE OCCURS ON JUNE 21 OR 22. THE EARTH'S TILT MAKES THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE POINTED ALMOST DIRECTLY AT THE SUN, GIVING THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE ITS LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR.

TO LEARN MORE, WATCH THIS BRAINPOP VIDEO!

Solstice and Equinox (BrainPOP)

ALSO KNOWN AS SOSISTERE, OR "SUN TO STAND STILL." THE SUN WILL HIT ONE HEMISPHERE ALMOST COMPLETELY AND THE OTHER NOT AT ALL. ON THESE DAYS, ONE HEMISPHERE WILL HAVE ITS LONGEST DAY AND THE OTHER WILL HAVE ITS SHORTEST DAY.

ALSO KNOWN AS SPRING IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE OR AUTUMN IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. THIS EQUINOX OCCURS ON MARCH 20 OR 21. THE EARTH'S AXIS IS PERPENDICULAR TO THE SUN'S RAYS AT THIS TIME, MEANING BOTH OF EARTH'S HEMISPHERES ARE EQUAL DISTANCE FROM THE SUN.

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EQUINOXES AND SOLSTICES

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THERE ARE FOUR TIMES DURING EACH YEAR WHEN EARTH'S AXIS ALIGNS PERFECTLY WITH THE SUN. THESE TIMES ARE KNOWN AS EQUINOXES AND SOLSTICES. FUN FACT: THE SEASONS ARE OPPOSITE IN THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN HEMISPHERES!

ALSO KNOWN AS AUTUMN IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE OR SPRING IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. THIS EQUINOX OCCURS ON SEPTEMBER 22 OR 23. AGAIN, BOTH OF EARTH'S HEMISPHERES ARE EQUAL DISTANCE FROM THE SUN.

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