OtterKnow Kids EncyclopediaDid you know the night sky looks different in summer than it does in winter? That is because Earth moves around the Sun all year long. As Earth travels, we face different parts of space, so we see different stars and constellations each season!
Earth is tilted, and that tilt gives us seasons. In summer, the nights are shorter and we look out at one part of the galaxy. In winter, the nights are longer and we face a different direction. That is why you can see Orion in winter but not in summer, and you can see the Summer Triangle only in warm months.
- Summer nights are great for seeing the Milky Way stretching across the sky.
- Winter skies have some of the brightest stars you can see all year.
- Some constellations, like the Big Dipper, can be seen in every season because they are near the North Star!
