Why is it hotter in summer than in winter?
Earth's Tipsy Tilt
Why is it hotter in summer than in winter?
Here's a question that feels obvious until you try to answer it. Summer is hot, winter is cold — everybody knows that. But WHY? You might guess the Earth swings closer to the Sun in summer. Reasonable guess! Also wrong. Plot twist: when it's summer where you live, Earth is actually doing the opposite of what you'd expect.
Earth's path around the Sun isn't a perfect circle — it's a slightly squished one. So yes, there's a closest point and a farthest point. But here's the kicker: Earth is actually CLOSEST to the Sun in early January, smack in the middle of northern winter. So distance is clearly not the boss of our seasons.
