Which of these pictures shows the positions of Earth in its orbit during different times in the year?
As an AI text-based model, I am unable to directly see or analyze any pictures. However, I can provide a textual description of the positions of Earth in its orbit during different times of the year.
Earth's orbit around the Sun is an elliptical shape, and its axial tilt of approximately 23.5 degrees is responsible for the changing seasons. Over the course of a year, Earth goes through four key positions in its orbit:
1. Vernal Equinox (Around March 20): During the vernal equinox, Earth is positioned in its orbit in a way that the Sun's rays directly hit the equator. This marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.
2. Summer Solstice (Around June 21): At the summer solstice, Earth is in a position where the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun. This results in the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, signaling the start of summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it's the shortest day and the beginning of winter.
3. Autumnal Equinox (Around September 22): The autumnal equinox occurs when Earth is positioned in its orbit in a way that the Sun's rays hit the equator directly. This marks the start of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere.
4. Winter Solstice (Around December 21): At the winter solstice, Earth is in a position where the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun. This causes the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the start of winter. In the Southern Hemisphere, it's the longest day and the beginning of summer.
Keep in mind that these orbital positions represent the general patterns, and the exact dates may vary slightly from year to year due to factors like leap years.