Why We Have Seasons

How did Earth get its season? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice explain how the Earth got its seasons, its axial tilt, the Milankovitch Cycle, and more! What are seasons like on other planets?
Neil breaks down the biggest misconception about Earth’s elliptical orbit. Why is noon not the hottest time of day? Why is June not the hottest month of the year? We explore the Hadean Period and how the Earth got its tilt, the Milankovitch Cycle, and what causes ice ages. Plus, discover what seasons on Venus and Uranus are like.
Animator: Luca Depardon
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Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!
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Timestamps:
00:00 - The Hadean Period
1:54 - Why Earth Has Seasons
6:40 - The Milankovich Cycle
9:24 - Understanding the Tropics
10:35 - Season on Other Planets
12:31 - Closing: An Intricate Dance

[@StarTalk]

What should Neil explain next?

[@SageRites]

I would love a talk about magnetars and pulsars.

[@michaelccopelandsr7120]

@@SiriusDogStar369 I think it'd be better to start with you, little buddy. What's with the rage hate?

[@Obito_RL]

How to read the night sky without a telescope

[@nj590]

The theory of the fateful encounter, how the first single cell organisms became multicellular

[@joyce696]

Stars. Sun. Supernovas and how they effect planets?

[@FurryLover01]

Neil and chuck are great together it’s crazy

[@Greggoggry]

exactly !

[@DivineVegan]

So cute

[@chriswebster24]

Yeah, both of them are very smart and funny African-Americans.

[@MysticJhn]

When Neil wants to, his voice is just so relaxing and smooth. Man could probably read the dictionary to you and still be relaxing.

[@JohnEastmanExAttyAtLaw]

he is like James Earl Jones.

[@MysticJhn]

@@JohnEastmanExAttyAtLaw Some people just have a naturally perfect voice. Of course, James Earl Jones' voice was also boosted by his incredible acting.

[@tudorpodea5027]

A live audience would have burst out with serious laughter a couple of times and end with some well deserved applause. Beautiful show!

[@lorisfoucart2475]

Episodes are feeling like treats lately ! Love from France

[@CheifR0cka]

As much as I love Neil's office, I really like the new set. Very clean and sleek looking.

[@littlebitstrouds]

It’s the Meta NYC office studio. They were probably visiting.

[@jjames_010]

i needed neil to tell me a story tbh

[@Experion121]

I put his documentaries on when I can’t fall asleep

[@sonant6622]

@@Experion121 i thought i was the only one lol. Startalk gets me lost in thought and i fall asleep so quickly

[@michaelccopelandsr7120]

Neil and Chuck for 2024

[@tmmalone1986]

What? Trump 2024. Neil talks stars. Trump run these streets. Wtf you talking about

[@Paine137]

@@tmmalone1986Do you also bleat in your sleep or only while awake. Orange Dumbbell runs the streets the same way he runs his failed companies, into the ground.

[@xyo224]

How about we don’t bring politics into something like this and just leave that to your own personal thoughts

[@billionsandbillionsofstars]

These two have the best bromance!❤

[@tommyclark2709]

Every StarTalk video is awesome, but guys…. You blew this video outta the water! Amazing description and understanding for all! And terrific story time!

[@shakesrear7850]

Agreed

[@AlyraMoondancer]

And so much fun!

[@TheRabbitRonin]

12:25 Just like how brothers would act with each other haha and that's why these two work so well with each other even though they are not actual brothers.

[@terryl7874]

I have learned more about space and time than I ever did in school. Well done sir!!!

[@the_meccaneer]

Neil’s dance at 6.16 never gets old. 😂

[@twinc]

on 0,5x even better

[@uncharted7againblackking256]

6:16 kendrick lamar

[@kevrasx]

Is it a gif yet?

[@DustinDoesStuff]

The chemistry between these 2 are great. I'm laughing so hard and learning random bits about our planet's orbit.

[@xuevgermanist]

11:59 I don't know about you, but I'm saving this sound effect.

[@elprofessor5195]

😂

[@robertwhitemoto]

You guys are perfect together !! Thanks for yet another lesson !!

[@samsmith2635]

The Chemistry between you two is like you took your normal hang sessions and turned it into a show. Keep up the great work and keep fighting for Pluto Chuck!

[@SuperManning11]

I wish I could learn all science this way. These two are golden!

[@t-fuelernienotoriousmisfit7449]

I love this explanation. Gentleman, I applaud you. I will share this with my family as a teaching tool 💫💯👌

[@thesuncollective1475]

The ground is heated and radiates, thats news . Love it. Makes sense now😊

[@user-dh6bj2me5p]

But remember that the reflected light is infrared.

[@ashisuto3437]

Love the video! To everyone on the team who is able to make this happen, thank you!

[@lindafox1679]

I just love you guys!!! Always a a learning laugh that makes me smile ❤❤ Great bday gift too! Thank you ❣️

[@Chris-hx3om]

It's not a time delay thing. It's the fact that the sun doesn't just stop heating at midday/mid-season, it keeps heating as the day/season continues, albeit at a reducing rate. It's accumulation not delay.

[@TON-vz3pe]

Nice

[@adi91216]

You make Physics accessible to common people. This has to be a TV chat show with a live audience.

[@wabisabi6875]

Always so much fun learning stuff with these guys!

[@MrKennyroger]

Degrasse called Pluto soo many time, Pluto was shaking in its orbit thinking "am I getting relegated again??"

[@bocotton4419]

I'd like to have been a fly on the wall when Chuck found out neil killed Pluto

[@S04P95]

New video production is great!

[@AMadd3RHatt3R]

😂😂😂 The Pluto interruption lmao! ❤🎉🎉

[@LlamameJazz]

This video is beyond beautiful! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us! 😊

[@michaelwaller9561]

I love these guys. So informative and entertaining.

[@SheSweetLikSugarNSavage]

⭐📖 Not ashamed to say that Startalk bedtime storytimes are my absolute favorites❤.

[@jeremymiller3466]

All right this is absolutely amazing! 🎉🎉🎉 And this is one of the reasons I will always stay tuned lol!

[@jussihanski6034]

Good stuff. Fast-paced and enough visualisations. Great way to start a day.

[@OmniVenom]

I love the new set! And this video was great and very educational.

[@pcouchy3117]

Just watched this on 0.5x speed. Try it to see the drunk version! 😂

[@UTubeLion]

😂😂😂

[@colinzwicker]

My new hero😂😂😂

[@fmedina91]

😂

[@OrlandoAponte]

It’s the audible vowel transitions in diphthongs that give the impression of drunkenness at half speed.

[@LhyloCo]

Hahahaha!!

[@anthonyhuerta2231]

Neil speaking science after all these Terrance Howard’s videos is like taking Tylenol for a headache. Thank you.🙏

[@memphisgamein9015]

Both well need it💯

[@Brandon066362]

What’s Terrance Howard saying now?

[@roberth721]

​@@Brandon066362that 1 × 0 =1, and that moons are pooped out by planets, so Jupiter's red spot is a moon forming rather than a storm.

[@aashishpandey5461]

Waiting for Neil to break the ice 😀

[@electrovoyage2613]

I gave Terrence almost a minute on Rogan. Had to switch the channel. I couldn't do it.

[@mariellemendez]

Absolutely LOVE Neil's videos. And this tandem is a 2 in 1, funny and educational. Never get tired of them!! Please never stop posting!! Just wanted to make an observation regarding the graphics, a few times the rotation and translation of the earth is depicted inverted 😊 Just thought it was worrh to mention so that people don't get confused ❤ Love you guys!

[@lancelanier]

I love you guys.

[@arthursimmons5919]

You guys are awesome... very enlightning!

[@tatertot4810]

Damn. That was great. I learned a bunch in such a short and fun time. You two together are the best duo science educators. Thanks for everything!

[@mikeh720]

love that you're back together in a studio!

[@puriatabari7176]

Amazing niel and chuck. The addition of animation makes ur Channel grow even faster. Been following u for years. All the best Love from Toronto

[@tw1nn319]

I need Neil to read that entire book, so soothing when he speaks

[@katesmiles4208]

I loved the visualisations. 😊

[@davygravy5802]

freakin weird that i searched up why/how we have seasons for the first time ever, and then not one day later this video comes out...

[@dawnhansen7886]

Educational Entertainment to the MAX ❗️ I Love StarTalk ❤

[@iy3165]

That's what I'm talking about... Amazing Studio!!!

[@Eltoca21]

When one talks about the planetary tilts, how is horizontal and vertical determined in space? What is the reference point or what are they measuring it against to determine horizontal and vertical? Not sure if I am asking this question correctly but perhaps someone will understand what I am getting at lol.

[@mriandecker6533]

So, when we describe the tilt of a planet, it's with respect to that planets orbit around the sun. So, take the Earth. Assuming that its orbit is 0 degrees, Earth tilts 23.5 degrees off its orbital plane. For describing a tilted orbit, it's with respect to the sun itself. Assuming that the sun's tilt is at 0 degrees, any planets orbit is measured from that. That being said, there is no universal reference point. Everything has to be measured with respect to something else, in this case, the sun is that reference point. Hope this helps you to understand!

[@Mark_Bridges]

@@mriandecker6533 A tilted orbit such as Pluto's is usually specified in relation to either the Earth's ecliptic (orbital plane) or the invariable plane which is the average orbital plane of the entire solar system. The Sun's equator does not match either of those. Neil said Pluto's orbit is tilted 17 degrees, that is relative to the ecliptic. Look up 'invariable plane' in wikipedia if you want more information including the sun's tilt in relation to both the ecliptic and invariable plane.

[@alani3992]

The reference is to the plane that contains the planets. Yes, all planets are located in the same plane.

[@jeepliving1]

The measurements are all relative. As Einstein described in his famous theory. 🙃

[@Mark_Bridges]

@@alani3992 Roughly the same plane, but not exactly. The orbital planes of each planet vary by a few degrees.

[@853massey]

Love this channel, really love it.

[@jonathanjones35]

This was great, as always. I love Star Talk. Neil, you and Chuck are the best.

[@LouisGabrielThibault]

Such Grace! Many Nice!! ❤ I could not stop smiling, great job!

[@subeernadgonde16]

Awesome. One of the episodes that I bookmark for my kids.

[@carrito1981]

Loving this new format!

[@danielletanguay7272]

Love to Chuck and Neil from Canada! 🇨🇦

[@BloodTithingsGaming]

Only Startalk can completely intrigue me one moment and then make me laugh out loud the next.

[@davidmanning7052]

As unusual, outstanding presentation! Thank You both...

[@HunterLynch333]

Amazing. More more more

[@sammanx91]

Love it go Neil and Chuck

[@andrewslat7283]

Great talk on the seasons! I grew up near the southern shore of Lake Ontario in western New York. The effect the lake's surface temperature has on surface temperatures on land (if you're close enough to the lake) is quite substantial in the spring and very early summer. And the opposite occurs in the fall and early winter. 🙂

[@redrobotdubz]

Love the new setup, gentlemen!

[@halellujahmadida6873]

Finally understand what tropic of capricon is. I pass this landmark everytime🤔😮

[@ScottDincorn]

What a fantastic episode

[@BenjySparky]

Neil and Chuck, y'all rock! Peace

[@SlammedZero]

This was a fantastic episode. Even though I knew some of these things, it's still fun to check your knowledge on. Keep fighting that fight for Pluto Chuck!! haha

[@d.charlespyle]

Kudos for the animated graphic of the earth displaying the correct direction of the tilt! I see so many images, memes and analogies all over the Internet that get that wrong!

[@toti_key]

Who edited this animation 😂 pay him more

[@dfloyd2279]

So much Fun! Mr Tyson makes science and learning fun and easier…much appreciated

[@donnavogt433]

I loved the bed time story. !! Well put!!

[@mrpearson1230]

This new setup is amazing 👏🏾

[@sikhanyisokhambule2118]

My Geography teacher didn't explain this so eloquently and more understnadably than Neil has. Cheers to Neil.

[@charlessukati4866]

Brilliant lesson from these two ❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉

[@tylerc161]

12:16 I literally laughed so hard right now it made my chair unlock the recline. This was so good guys.

[@stanleydelano9169]

Great episode, like it when both of you are together rather than zoom!

[@tomsamaey1972]

Very very clear and entertaining! Greetings Belgium

[@dougalmcalpine6804]

That was so really extremely awesomely fantastic.

[@michaelarrington2345]

Another great episode ❤

[@phelipbarrospeixoto6426]

I would love a video on what Tyson thinks about the orbit of the planets and the orbit of electrons on an atom being displayed so similar. Thanks Sirs! Love this channel.

[@generalscheisskopf7435]

Top quality graphics!

[@tomreillyart]

Great video Neal, but I wish the tree in the graphic had some individual leaf motion

[@rays2794]

Neil, I absolutely love everything you do. I’ve read several of your books and love the way you explain stuff so idiots like me can understand.

[@pauljames9596]

Ahhh, thanks Neil for the bedtime story. Next, talk about the hexagon shape in Jupiter's atmosphere considering it violates the laws of "physics"

[@michaelccopelandsr7120]

Saturn has it, too.

[@burpreynolds3250]

What laws does it break ?

[@slowrunn3r88]

@@burpreynolds3250I was never familiar with this, so I’m excited to do more research on this. My personal guess is the person meant “it challenges what we’d expect/predict, so we’ll need to discover something new about physics to explain it” But I’m just speculating

[@VegaPhil]

There are plenty of explanations of it that perfectly fit in with current understanding and these have been recreated in experiments. Not sure why you’ve made an extreme statement like “violating laws of physics”. I would like to see Neil talk about these hexagons though

[@uriituw]

How does it violate the laws of physics? Be specific.

[@MagnusPaul1976]

Here in South Africa, the hottest time of the day in Summer is roughly at 15H00. In Winter, the ground heat shifts slightly back by about one to two hours, so 13H00-14H00, when it gets quite warm. Obviously, this is because the days are shorter, hence this shift in temperature and ground heat. 😂🤣😊

[@loisrossi841]

Great storytelling!

[@rachel_rexxx]

Woh classy new set guys

[@pdude1911]

You guys are intellectual rockstars! Salute from Holland 😊❤

[@matthewv.580]

I never knew the tilt of the Earth faces the same direction year round! That is cool, thanks for explaining and illustrating.

[@alani3992]

Always pointing to the Pole Star.

[@martink8080]

@@alani3992 Wait about 12,500 years and it will not be pointing at the Polaris, instead Vega will be the target. Guess we'll have to transfer the nickname.

[@bonnienichalson5151]

Love ❤️ that as a bed time story :)✨🌃

[@lauram1849]

Love it!

[@crunson2000]

LOoks like a comfy new shooting location for Neil to read Chuck his bedtime stories lol

[@rajanthathomas6009]

My daily therapy of knowledge and mind relaxation ❤

[@jannosek6784]

The studio looks AMAZING

[@The-binge_710]

GREAT CONTENT

[@iworms]

Clear skies to you, Neil and Chuck!

[@haggailubala9385]

Nice explanation

[@christinet638]

Chuck I’m crying here!,, 1:48

[@ErAyushvarshney]

Good night Dr. Neil thank you for the story

[@melindaflynn2110]

🎉 lovely explanation 🎉 thanks ✨️ to yous beautiful strong soul for sharing ❤

[@azreal712]

Seeing chuck do the math on the time delay was awesome and EXACTLY how most of us would do that math.

[@grapeshott]

Cyclones happen the most during October in the Eastern part of India because the Indian Ocean heats up maximum in October!! But now a days Cyclones happen even during earlier seasons because of global warming temp rise!

[@suomi35]

These guys are just great