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Geography · Grade 6
Drag Earth along its orbit, change the date and latitude to watch how seasons, day length and noon Sun height change.
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.5° and keeps its direction as Earth orbits the Sun, so each hemisphere receives different amounts of sunlight through the year.
Drag Earth along the orbit to change the date, and drag the latitude slider to change the observation point; watch seasons, day length and Sun height change. Drag the latitude past the Arctic Circle (67° or more) on the June solstice to see a full polar day.
Seasons are not caused by Earth being closer to or farther from the Sun — the orbit in this model is circular. Day and night lengths are not caused by Earth's rotation; rotation only creates the alternation of day and night.
Sunlight
Day: 13 h 17 min
Night: 10 h 43 min
Observed latitude
Lit portion
Drag Earth (the blue globe) along the orbit, click a solstice/equinox marker or use the sliders to change the date and latitude.
Day 173 · 22/6 · June solstice
The Sun is tilted toward the Northern Hemisphere 23.4°