Earth's Axial Tilt

Seasons on Earth are not determined by distance from the sun, as one might assume. Instead, the axial tilt of the Earth, which is approximately 23 degrees, plays a crucial role in creating opposite seasons in the northern and southern hemispheres. This tilt also fluctuates slightly over thousands of years due to lunar tidal forces, adding further complexity to our understanding of seasonal changes. Visualizing the Earth as a tilted basketball orbiting the sun helps illustrate how this tilt affects seasonal variations.