On July 3, 2025, at 3:54 pm ET, the Earth will officially reach its furthest point from the Sun for this year. This is called ...

Because Earth moves in an elliptical orbit around the sun, being further away means it travels slower along its orbit. This ...

Earth has four seasons due to its 23.5-degree tilt and the shape of its orbit around the sun. But do other planets have seasonal patterns too? (Image credit: ANDRZEJ WOJCICKI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY ...

For those north of the equator, the solstice marks the longest day and the shortest night of the year. The Earth spins on a ...

Let's say we want to build a model of the sun and Earth alone. Earth has a radius of about 6,371 kilometers (3,959 miles), but let's represent this with a marble 1 centimeter in diameter.

The first day of autumn, caused by the fall equinox, happens on Sunday, September 22, 2024. The equinox happens when the sun's rays square up with Earth so the day is about as long as night. From ...

Meteorological spring starts on March 1 and is based on annual temperature cycles, while astronomical spring starts on March 20 and is based on the Earth's position relative to the sun.

“Astronomical seasons are based on the position of the Earth in relation to the sun, whereas meteorological seasons are based on the annual temperature cycle,” NOAA says. “The Earth’s ...

Here's what to know about the upcoming 2025 summer solstice this week and when it last fell on June 22 — the rarest date for ...