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Earth-Sun Relationships
It is the earth’s relationship to the sun, and the amount of light it receives, that is responsible for the seasons and biodiversity. The amount of sun a region receives depends on the tilt of the earth’s axis and not its distance from the sun. The northern hemisphere experiences summer during the months of June, July, and August because it is tilted toward the sun and receives the most direct sunlight. Inversely, summer for the southern hemisphere takes place during the months of December, January, and February because that is when it receives the most direct sunlight. Did you know that the earth is approximately 3.2 million miles closer to the sun in January than in June? Learn more about the relationship between the earth and the sun with these resources.
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One Strange Rock: Formation of Earth
Listen as Astronauts explain the formation of Earth in this clip from National Geographic's One Strange Rock series.
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One Strange Rock: Lightning
Lightning is a powerful and dangerous force on Earth. It is also more common than you think it is, but our perspective on the surface of the earth is limited. Listen as astronauts describe lightning as they experienced it from outer space in this clip from National Geographic's series One Strange Rock.
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Seasons
Illustration of why Earth has seasons
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Earth-Sun Relationships
It is the earth’s relationship to the sun, and the amount of light it receives, that is responsible for the seasons and biodiversity. The amount of sun a region receives depends on the tilt of the earth’s axis and not its distance from the sun. The northern hemisphere experiences summer during the months of June, July, and August because it is tilted toward the sun and receives the most direct sunlight. Inversely, summer for the southern hemisphere takes place during the months of December, January, and February because that is when it receives the most direct sunlight. Did you know that the earth is approximately 3.2 million miles closer to the sun in January than in June? Learn more about the relationship between the earth and the sun with these resources.
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One Strange Rock: Formation of Earth
Listen as Astronauts explain the formation of Earth in this clip from National Geographic's One Strange Rock series.
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One Strange Rock: Lightning
Lightning is a powerful and dangerous force on Earth. It is also more common than you think it is, but our perspective on the surface of the earth is limited. Listen as astronauts describe lightning as they experienced it from outer space in this clip from National Geographic's series One Strange Rock.
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Seasons
Illustration of why Earth has seasons