The tilt in Earth's axis makes the apparent position of continents shift with the seasons

Images from NASA's EPIC camera aboard NOAA's DSCOVR mission show how Earth's axial tilt affects the apparent position of continents during different seasons. The camera captures a full-disk image of Earth's sunlit face every few hours, revealing how the continent positions shift with the seasons. The most striking difference is between the solstices, where South America is centered and Antarctica is visible in December, while in June, the Northern Hemisphere and North America are more centered, and Antarctica is out of view. The slight difference in Earth's apparent size between the solstices and equinoxes is due to DSCOVR's orbit, not Earth's tilt. The mission has collected over a decade of data on Earth's features, offering new insights into planetary cycles.

• DSCOVR's orbit changes every three months, and the timing drifts throughout the year due to lunar influences and orbital maneuvers.
• The angle between the sun, Earth, and satellite varies between 2 and 12 degrees, affecting how Earth appears in images.
• EPIC's vantage point helps visualize why Earth has seasons, but the mission has also opened new approaches to understanding planetary cycles.

The tilt of Earth's axis causes continents to appear in different positions during the year. The most noticeable changes are between the solstices, where continents shift from South America to North America. The mission has provided valuable data on Earth's diurnal and seasonal cycles, contributing to scientific understanding of planetary processes.

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