Seasons Beyond Earth: A Comparative Look at Planetary Variations

Earth's regular seasons are unique due to its slight tilt on its rotational axis, causing variations in sunlight throughout the year. This phenomenon, known as obliquity, can lead to drastic seasonal changes on other planets, with high obliquity resulting in extreme temperatures and reversed zonation. Spin-orbit resonances and the presence of moons can also influence a planet's obliquity and stability. Research on exoplanets, such as Kepler-186f, aims to understand the diversity of seasonal patterns across the universe.