March 3, 2025
[Alex on EARTHSKY.ORG] This pattern in nature – auroras increasing twice a year – is one of the earliest patterns ever to be observed and recorded by scientists.
Discover how Earth’s orbit and the Sun’s position throughout the year shape the changing seasons. From the closest approach at perihelion to the farthest point at aphelion, and the key turning points at the equinoxes and solstices, this category delves into the celestial mechanics that govern our planet’s seasonal rhythms.
March 1, 2025
Occurs on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 9:01 UTC • 5:01 a.m. EDT • 2:01 a.m. PDT
December 31, 2024
On January 4, 2025, at 13:28 UTC (8:28 a.m. EST or 5:28 a.m. PST), Earth's orbit will be at our closest point to the Sun for the year.
December 19, 2024
The start of winter (northern hemisphere) and summer (southern hemisphere) occurs on Saturday, December 21, 2024, at 09:21 UTC (4:21 a.m. EST).
September 22, 2024
The Equinox occurs on Sunday, September 22, 2024, at 12:43 UTC • 8:43 a.m. EDT • 5:43 a.m. PDT.
June 23, 2024
On July 5, 2024 @ 05:06 UTC, 1:06 am EST (July 4, 2024 @ 10:06 pm PST) the distance from Earth's center to the Sun's center will be 94,510,539 miles (152,099,969 km).
June 14, 2024
The June Solstice is coming! Thursday, June 20, 2024 at 20:50 UTC • 4:50 pm EDT • 3:50 pm CDT • 2:50 pm MDT • 1:50 pm PDT
March 19, 2024
The 2024 March Equinox happens on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at 11:06 p.m. EDT • 8:06 p.m. PDT (3:06 UTC on Wednesday, March 20, 2024)
January 2, 2024
On January 3, 2024, at 00:38 UTC (January 2, 2024, 7:38 p.m. EST or 4:38 p.m. PST), Earth's orbit will be at our closest point to the Sun for the year.
December 21, 2023
The December Solstice occurs on Friday, December 22, 2023 at 03:27 UTC - Thursday, December 21, 10:27 pm EST • 9:27 pm CST • 8:27 pm MST • 7:27 pm PST
September 18, 2023
Get ready for Fall or Spring depending on where you live. The Equinox occurs on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 06:50 UTC (2:50 a.m. EDT • Friday, September 22, 2023 at 11:50 p.m. PDT).
July 6, 2023
On July 6, 2023 at 20:06 UTC (4:06 pm EDT • 1:06 pm PDT), the distance from Earth's center to the Sun's center will be 94,506,364 miles (152,093,250 km).
June 21, 2023
The June Solstice is coming! Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at 15:57 UTC • 10:57 am EDT • 9:57 am CDT • 8:57 am MDT • 7:57 am PDT
March 20, 2023
The 2023 March Equinox happens on March 20, 2023 at 21:24 UTC (5:24 p.m. EDT • 2:24 p.m. PDT)
January 3, 2023
On January 4, 2023, at 16:17 UTC (11:17 a.m. EST or 8:17 a.m. PST), Earth's orbit will be at our closest point to the Sun for the year.
December 19, 2022
For 2022 it occurs on Wednesday, December 21st at 21:48 UTC
4:48 pm EST • 3:48 pm CST • 2:48 pm MST • 1:48 pm PST
September 2, 2022
The Equinox occurs on September 23, 2022 at 01:03 UTC (Thursday, September 22, 2022 at 9:03 p.m. EDT • 6:03 p.m. PDT).
June 28, 2022
Earth is at its farther distance in orbit around the Sun on July 4, 2022 at 7:10 UTC • 3:10 am EDT • 12:10 am PDT.
June 16, 2022
The June solstice is the beginning of summer for the northern hemisphere and winter for the southern hemisphere. It occurs on Tuesday, June 21st at 9:13 UTC at 5:13 am EDT • 4:13 am CDT • 3:13 MDT • 2:13 am PDT
March 19, 2022
YAY! Another change of season is here. The 2022 March Equinox happens on March 20, 2022 at 15:33 UTC (11:33 am EDT • 8:33 am PDT)
January 1, 2022
On January 4, 2022, at 1:52 a.m. EST (6:52 UTC), Earth's orbit will be at our closest point to the Sun for the year.
December 18, 2021
It is the 2021 December Solstice! 15:58 GMT • 10:58 am EST • 9:58 am CST • 8:58 MST • 7:58 am PST Convert Your Timezone A new season is upon us! Depending upon where you live: OR The December […]
September 22, 2021
WHOOO HOO! It’s a change of season! The next Equinox occurs on September 22, 2021 at 19:21 UTC (3:21 p.m. EDT • 12:21 p.m. PDT). It’s the Autumnal (Fall) equinox for the Northern Hemisphere! It’s the Vernal (Spring) equinox for […]
July 4, 2021
This farthest point occurs July 5, 2021, at 6:27 pm EDT or 10:27 pm UTC. At that time the distance from Earth’s center to the Sun’s center will be 94,510,886 miles (152,100,527 km).
June 20, 2021
The June Solstice for 2021 occurs on June 21st at 3:22 UTC (11:32 pm EDT on June 20th). It is the beginning of summer for the northern hemisphere and winter for the southern hemisphere.
March 19, 2021
WHOOO HOO! It’s a change of season! The next Equinox occurs on March 20, 2021, at 9:36 UT (5:36 am ET). It’s the Vernal (Spring) equinox for the Northern Hemisphere! It’s the Autumnal (Fall) equinox for the Southern Hemisphere! But […]
December 21, 2020
December 21, 2020 is an amazing day for astronomy lovers! It's the December Solstice and the Great Conjunction of Saturn & Jupiter. Here's how they connect and some easy suggestions for making your own observations of the sky.
September 21, 2020
This marks the beginning of fall for the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of spring for the Southern Hemisphere. The change happens at 9:30 a.m. EDT (1330 UTC/GMT) on Tuesday, September 22.
July 3, 2020
Happy Aphelion 2020! July is summer in the northern hemisphere and you might think this means we are closer to the Sun. This is a common misconception. Earth is actually farther from the Sun in July and on July 4th […]
June 19, 2020
The weekend of June 20 – 21, 2020 has a lot going on when it comes to the Sun. We get to enjoy two exciting events thanks to the orbital dance between Earth and the Moon as the move together […]
March 19, 2020
It’s Time Again for the Change of Seasons—the Vernal or March Equinox 2020! This marks the beginning of spring for the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of fall for the Southern Hemisphere. The change happens at 11:49 p.m. EDT (0349 […]
January 5, 2020
All of us on Earth and in orbit reached our closest point to the Sun, January 5 at 2:48 EST or 7:48 Universal Time (UT). This point of closest approach to the Sun is called perihelion. The point when Earth […]
December 21, 2019
The December solstice for 2019 arrives on Dec. 22nd at 04:19 UT (December 21st 11:19 pm EST). It is called the winter solstice for the Northern Hemisphere and the summer solstice for the Southern Hemisphere. But what is the solstice […]
June 21, 2019
Happy June Solstice 2019! The beginning of summer for the northern hemisphere and winter for the southern hemisphere. The June Solstice comes on June 21, 2019 at 11:54 a.m. EDT. But what is the solstice exactly? There are two solstices […]
December 21, 2017
The December solstice for 2017 begins on Dec. 21st at 16:28 UT (11:28 am EST). It is called the winter solstice for the Northern Hemisphere and the summer solstice for the Southern Hemisphere. But what is the solstice exactly? There […]
June 20, 2017
Happy June Solstice 2017! The beginning of summer for the northern hemisphere and winter for the southern hemisphere. Oh, and it is two months until the August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse! The June Solstice comes on June 21, 2017 […]
March 20, 2017
The March equinox for 2017 begins on March 20th at 10:29 UT (6:29 am EDT.) The Spring or Vernal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere is the Fall or Autumnal Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa. But what is the equinox […]
December 20, 2016
The December solstice for 2016 begins on Dec. 21st at 10:44 UT (5:44 am EST). It is called the winter solstice for the Northern Hemisphere and the summer solstice for the Southern Hemisphere. But what is the solstice exactly? […]
September 22, 2016
The September equinox for 2016 begins on September 22th at 14:21 UT (10:21 am EDT.) The September Equinox is the Fall or Autumnal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and the Spring or Vernal Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. But what is the […]
June 20, 2016
For 2016, we get the special treat of a full moon on the June Solstice. This last happened in 1967 and will not happen again until 2062. The June solstice for 2016 begins on June 20th at 22:34 UT (6:34 pm EDT.) […]
March 20, 2016
The March equinox for 2016 begins on March 20th at 04:30 UT (12:30 am EDT.) The Spring or Vernal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere is the Fall or Autumnal Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa. But what is the equinox […]
July 6, 2015
Earth reached its farthest point from the sun July 6 at 3:41 p.m. EDT or July 6 at 19:41 in Universal Time (UT). This is called aphelion. The distance from the Sun’s center to Earth’s center will be 152,093,481 kilometers or 94,506,507 miles. The […]
June 21, 2015
The June solstice for 2015 begins on June 21st at 16:39 UT (12:39 pm EDT.) It is called the summer solstice for the Northern Hemisphere and the winter solstice for the Southern Hemisphere. But what is the solstice exactly? There are two solstices in […]
March 19, 2015
On March 20, 2015 a supermoon total solar eclipse occurs in the Faroe Islands and Svalbard (Norway), and a partial solar eclipse in Europe, northern and eastern Asia and northern and western Africa. The eclipse starts at 07:41 UT and ends […]
January 5, 2015
Earth reached its closest point from the sun, January 4, at 1:36am EDT or January 4 at 6:36am in Universal Time (UT). This is called perihelion. The point of closest approach is called perihelion. These terms are specific to a […]
December 21, 2014
The December solstice for 2014 begins on Dec. 21st at 23:03 UT (6:03 pm EST, 3:03 pm PST.) It is called the winter solstice for the Northern Hemisphere and the summer solstice for the Southern Hemisphere. But what is the […]
July 5, 2014
Earth reaches its furthest point from the sun, July 3, at 8pm EDT or July 4 at 1am in Universal Time (UT). This is called aphelion. The point of closest approach is called perihelion. These terms are specific to a […]
June 20, 2014
The June solstice for 2014 begins on June 21st at 10:51 UT (6:51 am EDT.) It is called the summer solstice for the Northern Hemisphere and the winter solstice for the Southern Hemisphere. But what is the solstice exactly? There are two solstices in a […]
December 20, 2013
The December solstice for 2013 begins on Dec. 21st at 17:11 UT. It is called the winter solstice for the Northern Hemisphere and the summer solstice for the Southern Hemisphere. But what is the solstice exactly? There are two solstices […]
December 20, 2012
It’s official! The sun cannot bring the end of the world. We are quickly approaching the supposed doomsday, December 21, 2012. As we and many have already said it is “Not Gonna Happen”. Many who have been promoting the doomsday […]
December 18, 2012
What is so special about December 21, 2012? Let’s see. It is the 2012 winter equinox for the northern hemisphere. It is 10 days before the end of the calendar year 2012. It is a Friday. But what it is […]