At point A in the Northern Hemisphere, the season is which?

At point A in the Northern Hemisphere, the season is which?

• A. Winter
• B. Spring
• C. Summer
• D. Fall

Answer: (D)

Seasons come from the tilt of Earth’s axis relative to its orbit around the Sun, which changes how high the Sun climbs in the sky and how long the daylight lasts. An equinox means day and night are about equal, and a solstice marks the longest or shortest day. Point A matches the autumnal equinox position in the Northern Hemisphere. At that moment, the Sun is directly above the equator and the days begin to shorten as the Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the Sun. From the autumnal equinox up to the winter solstice, this is fall in the Northern Hemisphere. So the season is Fall. Winter would begin after the winter solstice when days are shortest; Spring starts after the vernal (spring) equinox; Summer occurs around the summer solstice when days are longest.

Seasons come from the tilt of Earth’s axis relative to its orbit around the Sun, which changes how high the Sun climbs in the sky and how long the daylight lasts. An equinox means day and night are about equal, and a solstice marks the longest or shortest day.

Point A matches the autumnal equinox position in the Northern Hemisphere. At that moment, the Sun is directly above the equator and the days begin to shorten as the Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the Sun. From the autumnal equinox up to the winter solstice, this is fall in the Northern Hemisphere.

So the season is Fall. Winter would begin after the winter solstice when days are shortest; Spring starts after the vernal (spring) equinox; Summer occurs around the summer solstice when days are longest.