Is it so that the Sun is not in the middle of the elliptical orbit of the earth? How is it possible that we have only one summer in a year, when earth comes close to sun twice in a year?
2007-06-30 21:32:52 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
try being on the other side of the world. (N/S)
duh
and the worlds tilted
2007-06-30 21:36:38 · answer #1 · answered by Mercury 2010 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Hello dear!
Good question, but let me explain shortly:
The Earth is closest to the Sun around New year's day (depending on the year it could be from Dec 26 to January 7 - I suppose that is why we celebrate New Year starting on January 1st!). Still then it is winter! Why?
Because the seasons are result of the inclination of Earth's axis (NS poles) to the level of her orbit. As it goes around the Sun, this inclination is "steady" (it moves but it takes 26,000 years for a rotation). Thus, as Earth spins around herself and around the Sun, there is a point that the Sun rays go through atmosphere sorter and longer distance. Atmosphere absorbs more energy from the sunrays than they loose to reach it, Also, in summer time, the Sun's rays reach the place for more time. The combination of the two makes much more difference than being closer or further the Sun!
2007-07-03 07:02:48 · answer #2 · answered by soubassakis 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Clueless, aren't you -- about planetary orbits.
The ellipse is slight, varying from 91 to 94 million miles. The Earth's perihelion (look it up in Wikipedia) happens only once. Its apohelion (look it up in Wikipedia) happens only once. This variation in distance might affect a season being a little hotter than average or cooler than average, but it doesn't have anything to do with summer.
Why, I'll bet your so clueless you don't even know that while the northern hemisphere is having a summer season, the southern hemisphere is having a winter season. Now how does that happen, if orbital proximity to the Sun is the dominant factor for summer and winter?
And about what causes seasons on Earth? It's all about the 23.5 degree tilt, clueless. Look it up in Wikipedia before asking lame questions.
2007-07-01 11:14:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The difference of the distance of the earth to the sun during a year is very small to have a decisive effect on the temperature of the earth. The angle of sun's radiation on the earth is of importance here. When the northern hemisphere faces the sun there is summer, when it is away there is winter.
2007-07-02 03:39:49 · answer #4 · answered by Dimitrios 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The earth's closest approach to the sun comes only once a year. However the difference between closest and farthest approach is small. The tilt of the earth, which affects the sun's height above the horizon, has a much greater effect on temperature.
2007-07-01 04:38:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
The sun is at one of the focal points of Earth's elliptical orbit, not at its center. We come closest to the Sun only once a year.
2007-07-01 04:38:54 · answer #6 · answered by Helmut 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The seasons are regulated by the 23.5 degree tilt of the axis of the Earth. Strangely, summer occurs when the Earth is farthest from the sun.
2007-07-04 10:38:44 · answer #7 · answered by johnandeileen2000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Seasons are entirely down to the tilt of the Earth's axis. this affects day length and the intensity of light reaching the surface.
If you were not so northern hemisphere centric you would realise that it is winter in Australia when it is summer here - but the Earth is in the same place with respect to the sun.
2007-07-01 04:41:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
We do have 2 summers per year. 1 in the northern hemisphere and one in the south. The earth is inclined on it's axis so on one pass the north is closer to the sun and on the other the south is closer.
2007-07-01 04:37:56 · answer #9 · answered by Mike C 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Once,the northern hemisphere has summer ,once the southern hemisphere has summer.
The northern hemisphere's longest day is on June 21,called summer solistice and the summer solistice of the southern hemisphere is on December 23.
The longest distance the earth comes from the son is called perihelion.
2007-07-01 07:35:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the seasons are not determined by the earth's proximity to the sun , but rather angle at which the sun's rays strike a particular region of the planet to create its seasons (more direct rays = higher temperatures because of increased amounts of energy absorbed, etc)
the difference in the distance between the earth and the sun at perihelion and that at aphelion is insignificant when looking at temperatures and seasons
2007-07-01 04:55:28 · answer #11 · answered by KP 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋