How does the orbit of planets relate to seasons?

Answer 1

There is a common misconception about what causes the seasons. Many will say that it is due to the elliptical orbit of the planets, and we are further away from the sun in winter, and closer in the summer. THIS IS NOT THE CASE!!! Consider the fact that when it is summer in the northern hemisphere(The Upper Half of the Earth above the Earth), it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere. The actual reason that we have seasons is that the Earth is tilted on its axis. So instead of spinning upright in relation to the sun (like this |), it spins on a tilt (like this \). Thus, one half of the planet is slightly closer to the sun, and it is slightly warmer. Earth's orbit is elliptical, but it is very close to a perfect circle. However, most drawings of the solar system exaggerate the elliptical orbits, thus leading to the common misconception.

Answer 2

The tilt of a planet's axis relative to its orbit around the sun determines the changing seasons. As a planet orbits, different parts receive varying amounts of sunlight, causing temperature variations and creating the seasons. Earth's tilt and orbit create the four seasons we experience.