The four seasons happen because of the tilt of the Earth's axis. At different times of the year, the sun's rays hit different parts of the globe. The angle of the Earth's axis tilts the Northern Hemisphere towards the sun during the summer.

Is it true that the Earth is closer to the sun in the winter? Yes, because of its elliptical orbit, the earth is closer to the sun during the northern hemisphere's winter.

However, distance from the sun does not affect the seasons. When the earth is closest to the sun (around January 3), the northern hemisphere is titled away from the sun. This causes summer in the southern hemisphere, while the northern hemisphere experiences winter.

When the earth is farthest away from the sun (around July 4) the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun. This causes summer in the northern hemisphere, while people in Australia and the southern hemisphere experience winter. Though the earth's distance from the sun varies, distance has no effect on the seasons. The change in tilt causes the seasons to change.

Without the tilt of the earth's axis, we wouldn't have seasons. Instead, the areas around the equator would receive the most sun and the northern and southern hemispheres would be stuck in a gradual gradient of hot to cold. The seasons would not change, it would be about the same temperature year round and there would be no seasons.