DAYTIME AND NIGHTIME

Daytime and nightime are the results of the rotation of the Earth around its axis in a time period of 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4 seconds, which we call sidereal day. The Earth’s trajectory around the Sun isn’t exactly circular, but has an elliptical shape, where we are at times closer and at other times farther away from the Sun. The closest distance from the Sun, called perihelion, is of approximately 146.4 million km. This is taking place when it’s summertime in the Southern hemisphere. During the aphelion, which is the farthest distance between the Earth and the Sun, we’ll be about 151.2 million km apart.

The result of the orbital movement of the Earth around the Sun is the regular repetition ot the seasons; taking into consideration that the distance between the Earth and the Sun is not a determining factor in the differences that exist between the seasons. Let’s remember that the seasons are a consequence of the inclination of the Earth’s rotation axis with respect to its orbital plane, this inclination angle is of 23°27’. This inclination will allow the ecliptic, which is the plane on which the Earth’s orbit traces its elliptical trajectory around the Sun, to cut the Equator’s plane obliquely, also forming an angle of 23°27’. It is this oblique angle which makes it possible for 4 notable points to exist within the ecliptic: 2 solstices and 2 equinoxes.

From:  “The Awakening of the Puma” by Mallku Aribalo.