A similar misconception among children and adults is that Earth's seasons occur because the United States is closest to the Sun in June and farthest from the Sun in December. In a recent survey, 49% of children and 59% of adults said the United States is closest to the Sun in June and farthest from the Sun in December. In June, the United States is 153,000,000 kilometers from the Sun, and in July the United States is also 153,000,000 kilometers from the Sun. In December the United States is 147,700,000 kilometers from the Sun, and in January it is 147,100. 100 kilometers from the Sun. In December the United States is about 5,300,000 kilometers closer to the Sun than in June. The United States is closer to the Sun in the winter months than in the summer months. As can be seen, seasons on Earth do not occur because the United States is closer to the Sun in summer than in winter, proving the common belief to be a false statement. The seasons on Earth occur because the Earth is tilted at 23.5˚. 62% of children and 55% of adults believe that Earth's seasons occur because the United States is furthest from the Sun in June and furthest from the Sun in December. This statement is the very reason why seasons occur. About 4.533 billion years ago, there was a planet called Theia that orbited on the same path as Earth, about the size of Mars. When it became too large to remain stable in its orbit, Theia crashed into Earth at an angle that caused the Earth to tilt 23.5°. The Earth orbits counterclockwise around the Sun. At different times of the year, direct and indirect sunlight is found at different latitudes on the Earth. When a latitude receives indirect light, the...... middle of paper...... The sun is highest and lowest in the Northern Hemisphere sky. The Sun reaches its maximum brightness during the Summer Solstice (June 21), which is also the longest day of the year. On December 21 (Winter Solstice), the Sun is at its lowest point in the sky. The sun is higher in the sky during the summer because the North Pole is tilted 23.5 degrees towards the sun and since we are in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun is higher in the sky. During the winter, the South Pole is tilted 23.5 degrees relative to the Sun, making the sun lower in the U.S. sky in the winter. Because we are tilted further away from the sun in the winter, the Northern Hemisphere sees less of the sun because it is lower in the sky. In conclusion, the seasons occur because the Earth has a tilt of 23.5°. Different points of latitude at different times of the year receive indirect solar rays while some receive direct solar rays.