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3... 2... 1... 22:23 GMT! Happy #WinterSoltice Earth!
I'm going to let you in on a little trade secret: There is script astronomers are supposed to follow today when explaining what the solstice is, and that script goes something like this:
I'm going to let you in on a little trade secret: There is script astronomers are supposed to follow today when explaining what the solstice is, and that script goes something like this:
1) Construct a strawman who mistakenly thinks winter is because Earth has gotten further from the sun.
2) Ask the strawman "Ah! But if that *were* the cause of winter, then why is it summer in the southern hemisphere right now?"
2) Ask the strawman "Ah! But if that *were* the cause of winter, then why is it summer in the southern hemisphere right now?"
3) Pivot to a discussion of the tilt of the Earth's axis (the real reason for the seasons).
4) Bonus Points: Use the words "obliquity", "eccentricity" and "precession" as much as possible to give your audience some impressive words to drop at their holiday parties.
4) Bonus Points: Use the words "obliquity", "eccentricity" and "precession" as much as possible to give your audience some impressive words to drop at their holiday parties.
