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3
SUMMER BEGINS ON JUNE 20
Our Planet is Tilted
J
In ancient times, people thought that in the winter, the sun was
leaving them—perhaps to disappear forever. Then in the spring
when the daylight hours started to get longer, it was a time of
celebration.
Find each sun's
twin.
S T O N E H E N G E
What is this article
about?
What will happen?
When will it happen?
Where will it happen?
Why will it happen?
Read one of the
articles on this page.
Then answer the
questions below!
Read one of the
Ancient scientists and priests studied the path of the sun and found that the sun
"returned" on a regular schedule each year. Ancient buildings were constructed
to keep track of the sun's movement. One of the most famous is Stonehenge
located in England. With a section of the stones that aligns with the rising
sun at winter solstice and an "avenue" that aligns with the
setting sun on the summer solstice.
une 20, 2021 is a special day for people in the
Earth's northern hemisphere. That day will be the
first day of summer and the "longest day of the
year" in their part of the world.
That day will still have 24 hours, like any other day
of the year, but it will feel longer because it is the day
of the year that has the most daylight hours.
It can have 15 to 20 hours of sunlight,
depending upon where you live.
Why do the hours of sunlight change during the year?
The answer lies in the Earth's tilt! When the North
Pole is tilted towards the sun, the sun rises earlier in
the morning and sets later at night in the northern
hemisphere.
As the Earth revolves around the sun over the
course of a year, the position of the North
Pole relative to the sun changes (see diagram).
When it is tilted away from the sun, the days
are shorter.
The day that the Earth's North Pole is
tilted closest to the sun is known as the
longest day of the year or the summer
solstice. The winter solstice, or the
shortest day of the year, happens when
the Earth's North Pole is tilted farthest
from the Sun.
The first day of summer is also called
QSBUFMTMLENRJSTOYLMSKTBILCME
(Circle every other letter below to reveal the answer.)
The northern hemisphere
gets more sunlight in
summer.
The southern
hemisphere gets more
sunlight in winter.
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