NASA · Space

EPIC Camera Captures Earth's Seasonal Changes

NASA's EPIC camera provides a continuous view of Earth's sunlit hemisphere from 1 million miles away. Images taken at solstices and equinoxes illustrate how Earth's axial tilt shifts continental positions and influences seasons.

Earth's tilt of 23.5 degrees, a result of an ancient collision, causes seasons by changing the amount of direct sunlight each hemisphere receives.

Equinoxes in March and September mark periods when both hemispheres receive nearly equal sunlight, leading to balanced day and night lengths.

EPIC captures full-disk images of Earth's sunlit side. The images show how the view of the Western Hemisphere changes throughout the year due to the tilt.

In December, South America is central, while in June, the Northern Hemisphere and North America are more centered.

Earth appears slightly smaller in equinox images because the DSCOVR spacecraft's distance varies due to its Lissajous orbit.

The angle between the Sun, Earth, and satellite also affects Earth's apparent roundness, but the tilt is the primary driver of continental position changes.

EPIC's decade-long mission provides data on diurnal and seasonal cycles, aiding studies of vegetation, clouds, ice, and more.

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