Earth's Tilt, Not Its Distance From the Sun, Causes Seasons

Many people believe that Earth is closer to the Sun in the summer and that this is why it is hotter. NASA says that is not the reason. Earth’s tilted axis causes the seasons. Earth’s axis is an imaginary pole running through the center of the planet, and it does not stand up straight. It leans over a bit. When the North Pole tilts toward the Sun, it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere. When the South Pole tilts toward the Sun, it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Distance does change during the year, but NASA points out that it works against the popular idea: in the Northern Hemisphere, we have winter when Earth is closest to the Sun and summer when it is farthest away. The change in distance does not make much difference to our weather.