Solstices. Occuring in June and December, the solstice marks either the start of
winter or the start of summer
. In the Northern Hemisphere, the June Solstice heralds the astronomical beginning of summer and is the day with the most daylight in the year.
What are solstices and equinoxes and how do they determine our seasons?
Equinox and solstice are vital parts of the
astronomical calendar
which determine the transitions between the seasons. The equinox and solstice define the transitions between the seasons of the astronomical calendar and are a key part of the Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
What seasons do the solstices occur?
Solstices mark the beginning of
astronomical summer and winter
and occur around June 21 and Dec. 21. A year is divided into four discrete seasons based on astronomical and meteorological cycles, but the two don’t always have the same start and end dates for each season.
During which two seasons does an equinox occur?
On Earth, there are two equinoxes every year: one
around March 21 and another around September 22
. Sometimes, the equinoxes are nicknamed the “vernal equinox” (spring equinox) and the “autumnal equinox” (fall equinox), although these have different dates in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
What are the winter and summer solstices and what causes the solstices to occur?
As the Earth moves in its orbit,
the tilt of the North Pole changes
(see diagram). When it is tilted away from the Sun, it is winter in the northern hemisphere. In between we have autumn and spring. The day that the Earth’s North Pole is tilted closest to the sun is called the summer solstice.
What are the 4 equinoxes?
- Vernal equinox(about March 21): day and night of equal length, marking the start of spring.
- Summer solstice (June 20 or 21): longest day of the year, marking the start of summer.
- Autumnal equinox(about September 23): day and night of equal length, marking the start of autumn.
What causes the season?
Seasons occur because
Earth is tilted on its axis relative to the orbital plane
, the invisible, flat disc where most objects in the solar system orbit the sun. Earth’s axis is an invisible line that runs through its center, from pole to pole. Earth rotates around its axis.
What’s the difference between an equinox and a solstice?
So, at the end of the day, while solstices and equinoxes are related, they happen at different times of the year. Just remember that solstices are
the longest and shortest days of the year
, while equinoxes occur when the day and night are equally as long.
What is a day with 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness called?
September Equinox (Approximately September 22-23)
There are 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness at all points on the earth’s surface on
the two equinoxes
.
What causes the solstice?
Solstices occur because
Earth’s axis of rotation is tilted about 23.4 degrees relative to Earth’s orbit around the sun
. This tilt drives our planet’s seasons, as the Northern and Southern Hemispheres get unequal amounts of sunlight over the course of a year.
Is equinox twice a year?
We have an
equinox twice a year
– spring and fall – when the tilt of the Earth’s axis and Earth’s orbit around the sun combine in such a way that the axis is inclined neither away from nor toward the sun.
How does the equinox affect us?
Find out how they influence the seasons and hours of daylight on each planet. Every six months, once in March and again in September, an equinox
splits Earth’s day almost in half
, giving us about 12 hours of daylight and 12 of night.
What is the importance of the equinox position of Earth?
Twice a year, the sun crosses the celestial equator, moving from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere, or vice versa. These two crossings are very important for the inhabitants of Earth,
because they mark the change in the direction the sun’s rays fall on Earth
.
Where would you find almost 24 hours of daylight?
During the summer months, you can experience up to 24 hours of sunlight above the Arctic Circle, which means more time to enjoy the sights and make new discoveries. When you plan your midnight sun adventure, think of
Northern Norway
as divided into six main areas as you travel north.
Why are winter days shorter?
During the winter,
the sun’s rays hit the Earth
at a shallow angle. The sun’s rays are more spread out, which decreases the amount of energy that hits any given spot. The long nights and short days prevent the Earth from warming up.
Why does it stay lighter longer in the North?
In the summer months, the northern half of the Earth, where we live, tilts towards the Sun. This means
we get more sunlight
, making the days longer. During the fall, the northern half tilts a little bit away from the Sun and the southern half faces a little more towards the Sun.
