The orbit of the Earth defines an ellipse with
the Sun at one focus. The Earth moves around its orbit in the
direction of the arrows, while spinning about its own axis,
which is tilted to the plane of the ecliptic at 23.5 deg. The
Earth axis points toward the North Star.
Summer solstice usually occurs on 21/22
June in the northern hemisphere and on 21/22 December in
the southern hemisphere.
As a curiosity, the Arctic Circle is the imaginary line
that marks the latitude above which the sun does not
set on the
day of the summer
solstice and does not rise on the day
of the winter
solstice. North of this latitude, periods
of continuous
daylight or night last up to six months at the North Pole. |
