The seasons happen because Earth's axis is tilted 23.5 degrees. As the Earth goes around the Sun each year, the tilt stays pointed the same direction, meaning we are tilted toward and away from the Sun at different times of the year. This causes different hemispheres to receive more or less energy, changing the temperature and resulting in seasons.
Whatever happens in the Northern Hemisphere the opposite happens in the southern. We live in the Northern Hemisphere, so any place that is in the Northern Hemisphere will experience the same season and any place that is in the Southern Hemisphere will experience the same season. Example: Winter in the Northern Hemisphere (United States and Paris) and summer in the Southern Hemisphere (Australia and Brazil).
Equinox - Equal day and equal night. Solstice - Longest and shortest days. Vernal - Spring Autumnal - Fall or autumn
Winter solstice - December 21st the first day of winter, longer nights and shorter days and the sun is at its lowest point in the sky. Vernal Equinox - March 21st the first day of spring, equal day and night hours. Summer solstice - June 21 the first day of summer, longer day hours and shorter night hours and the sun is at it's highest point point in the sky. Autumnal Equinox - September 21st the first day of fall, equal day and night hours.
Moon Phases
The Moon appears to change shapes throughout a month, but why? The Moon reflects the light of the Sun, and just like the Earth is only half lit by the Sun (giving us day and night) the Moon is also only half lit. As the Moon goes around the Earth, we see more or less of the lit side depending on where it is in relation to the Sun and Earth. The New Moon is the moon that you do not see, because all of the lit side is facing the Sun. The Full Moon is the moon that looks like a complete circle, because all of the lit side is facing us.
Waxing - Increasing in size, phases between New and Full (Light to the right, right, relaxing, waxing) Waning - Decreasing in size, phases between Full and New (Light to the left) Crescent - Less than half Gibbous - More than half
Eclipses
Eclipses occur when the Earth and Moon line up with the Sun just right so that the shadow of one falls on the other. They don't happen every month (every New and Full Moon) because the Moon's orbit is tilted so it doesn't line up with the Sun all the time.
Solar Eclipse: This occurs when the Sun is eclipsed by the moon. This happens during a New Moon phase. -When the Moon casts a shadow on the Earth. -When the moon travels between the sun and the Earth. -The moon blocks the sun's light from the Earth in the middle of the day.
Lunar Eclipse: This occurs when the Sun is eclipsed by the Earth in front of the Moon. This happens during a Full Moon phase. -When the Earth casts a shadow on the Moon. -The Moon turns a red color. -The Moon moves into the shadow of the Earth during the night time hours.