This image was taken with the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) on EUMETSATs Meteosat-9 caught this view of Earth from geosynchronous orbit, and demonstrates how sunlight fell on the Earth on December 21, 2010.
View of Earth from Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) on EUMETSATs Meteosat-9 in geosynchronous orbit. Credit: NASA
The Earths solstices come two times a year. For the Northern Hemisphere, the summer season (June) solstice takes place around June 20-21, and the winter season (December) solstice happens around December 21-22.
At the solstice, the Suns path appears farthest north or south, depending upon which half of the planet you are on. Because the world is slightly slanted on its axis as it travels around the Sun, seasons alter on Earth.
Earths axis might be imagined as a fictional pole going right through the center of our world from “top” to “bottom.” Earth spins around this pole, making one total turn every day. That is why we have day and night.
By NASA
December 21, 2021