Science & history · Seasons and clocks
Seasons come from tilt, not distance
The seasons are opposite in the two hemispheres at the same distance from the Sun, which is the giveaway.
The next equinox or solstice
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Tilt
NASA Space Place puts it plainly: Earth's tilted axis causes the seasons. When the North Pole leans towards the Sun, the northern half of the planet gets more sunlight and has summer; the southern half has winter, and six months later they swap.
Not distance
Earth's distance from the Sun does change, but perihelion, the closest point, comes in January. That is why this site names the "June solstice" and the "March equinox" instead of the "summer solstice": which season it begins depends on where you are.
Sources
- NASA Space Place What Causes the Seasons? (opens in a new tab) for tilt, not distance; perihelion in January · checked 2 October 2026