Astro.unl.edu/naap/motion1/animations/seasons_ecliptic.swf

EARTH'S Seasons - Zoom Astronomy Advertisement. EnchantedLearning.com is a user-supported site. As a bonus, site members have access to a banner-ad-free version of the site, with print-friendly pages.Click here to learn more. (Already a member? EnchantedLearning.comThe Seasons and Axis Tilt The Earth's seasons are not caused by the differences in the distance from the Sun throughout the year (these differences are extremely small). The Earth's axis is tilted from perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic by 23.45°. Summer is warmer than winter (in each hemisphere) because the Sun's rays hit the Earth at a more direct angle during summer than during winter and also because the days are much longer than the nights during the summer. Solstices The solstices are days when the Sun reaches its farthest northern and southern declinations. EquinoxesEquinoxes are days in which day and night are of equal duration. Related Pages: