In between these, Spring and Autumn will occur. So, when the North Pole tilts toward the Sun, it's summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Stargazing Live investigate. We have hot summers and cold winters because of the tilt of the Earth's axis. Why Do We have Seasons?

Explore what causes seasons on Earth in this interactive adapted from NASA materials that features four cities at different latitudes. Throughout the year, different parts of Earth receive the Sun's most direct rays. Have a look at this clip to see how the Earth's tilt changes the seasons. Support materials include: Background Reading, Teaching Tips, and Discussion Questions. The earth's spin axis is tilted with respect to its orbital plane. This is what causes the seasons. Seasons happen because Earth's axis is tilted at an angle of about 23.4 degrees and different parts of the Earth receive more or less solar energy at different times of the year. As we travel around the Sun, we begin to tilt away and it becomes winter. The tilt of the Earth's AXIS is the most important reason why seasons occur. The Short Answer: Earth's tilted axis causes the seasons. It's because the spin of the Earth is actually wonky. The tilt of the Earth means the Earth will lean towards the Sun (Summer) or lean away from the Sun (Winter) 6 months later. Why do we have seasons and why are the days longer in the summer than in the winter? And when the South Pole tilts toward the Sun, it's winter in the Northern Hemisphere. As the earth spins on its axis, producing night and day, it also moves about the sun in an elliptical (elongated circle) orbit that requires about 365 1/4 days to complete. The axis of the Earth is tilted, which means that in summer we (in the UK) are leaning towards the Sun. Use this resource to view how Earth’s axial tilt causes seasons from different perspectives and to develop and use models of sunlight received at Earth’s surface.