Solstices
Definition
Solstices are the two points in the year when the Sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon, resulting in the longest and shortest days of the year. The summer solstice occurs around June 21st and marks the beginning of summer, while the winter solstice occurs around December 21st and marks the beginning of winter.
Analogy
Imagine you're on a swing set. During the summer solstice, you swing all the way up to reach your highest point before coming back down. This represents the long days and high position of the Sun during this time. On the other hand, during the winter solstice, you swing only a little bit before quickly coming back down. This represents the short days and low position of the Sun during this time.
Related terms
Equinoxes: Equinoxes occur twice a year when day and night are approximately equal in length. The spring equinox marks the beginning of spring, while autumnal equinox marks fall.
Tropics: The tropics refer to regions near Earth's equator between 23.5 degrees north (Tropic of Cancer) and 23.5 degrees south (Tropic of Capricorn). These areas experience consistent warm weather throughout most of the year.
Axial tilt: Axial tilt refers to Earth's tilt on its axis relative to its orbital plane around the Sun. It is responsible for causing seasons and variations in daylight hours throughout different times of year.
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