The basic reason we have seasons on Earth is due to the tilt of Earth's axis. Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 to 23.5 degrees relative to its orbital plane around the Sun. This tilt means that as Earth orbits the Sun throughout the year, different parts of the planet receive varying amounts of sunlight at different angles. When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun, it experiences summer with more direct sunlight and longer days, while the Southern Hemisphere receives less direct sunlight and has winter. Six months later, the situation reverses, causing the Southern Hemisphere to have summer and the Northern Hemisphere to have winter. This axial tilt remains pointed in the same direction in space as Earth orbits, leading to the cyclical pattern of seasons
. It is a common misconception that Earth's distance from the Sun causes seasons. Although Earth's orbit is slightly elliptical, the variation in distance is not significant enough to cause seasonal changes. In fact, Earth is closest to the Sun during the Northern Hemisphere's winter and farthest during its summer, which contradicts the idea that distance drives the seasons
. In summary, the tilt of Earth's rotational axis and its consistent orientation as Earth orbits the Sun cause the changing seasons by altering the angle and intensity of sunlight received in different hemispheres throughout the year.
