To describe the four positions in Earth's orbit around the Sun, we typically refer to them in relation to the seasons:
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Position 1: Spring Equinox (around March 21)
- In this position, the Sun is directly above the equator, resulting in nearly equal day and night lengths across the globe. It marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.
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Position 2: Summer Solstice (around June 21)
- At this position, the North Pole is tilted closest to the Sun, leading to the longest day and shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, marking the start of summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is winter.
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Position 3: Fall Equinox (around September 23)
- Similar to the spring equinox, the Sun is again directly above the equator, resulting in equal day and night lengths. This marks the beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere.
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Position 4: Winter Solstice (around December 21)
- In this position, the South Pole is tilted closest to the Sun, leading to the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, marking the start of winter. In the Southern Hemisphere, this represents summer.
You can label these positions accordingly on your diagram.