2. on the winter solstice, the sun doesn't rise at the arctic circle
on the winter solstice, the sun doesn't rise at the arctic circle. here in fort yukon (8 miles above the Arctic Circle), this was taken during the brightest time of day

3. Understanding the Seasons

4. Seasons Vocabulary: Rotation: the spinning of the earth on its axis
Revolution: one complete orbit around the sun
Solstices: days when the sun appears directly over the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn
Equinoxes: days when the sun appears directly over the Equator

5. Useful notes:
It takes the earth 24 hours to make one full rotation on its axis.
The sun appears to rise in the east and set in the west because the earth spins from west to east.
The nearly circular path of the earth around the sun is known as its orbit.
It takes the earth 365 ¼ days to make one revolution around the sun.

6. Why do we have Leap Year?
Since it takes 365 ¼ days for the earth to orbit the sun, we add a day every fourth year (¼+¼+¼+¼= 1 extra day)

7. Notes, continued: 6. The earth is tilted 23 ½ degrees on its axis.
When it is summer in the northern hemisphere, it is winter in the southern hemisphere
On the summer solstice (June 21st), the sun’s direct rays fall on the Tropic of Cancer
On the winter solstice (December 21st), the sun’s direct rays fall on the Tropic of Capricorn

8. There are two days of the year where night and day are the same length nearly everywhere on earth. Write the name of that day and its calendar date below:
March 20 or 21 – Vernal (spring equinox)
Sept. 22 or 23 – Autumnal (fall) equinox

9. Latitude and Climate
Places near the equator have warm climates because they receive more of the sun’s direct rays throughout the year.
Places farthest from the equator are cold because they receive less direct rays of the sun throughout the year.