Why Do We Have Day and Night?
The Spinning Earth
Have you ever wondered why sometimes it’s bright and sunny, and other times it’s dark and full of stars?
It all happens because our planet Earth is spinning!
Earth spins around an invisible line called an axis. It takes 24 hours for Earth to make one full spin — that’s what we call one day.
When your side of Earth faces the Sun, it’s daytime. You can see light, feel warmth, and play outside under the sunshine. But when your side of Earth turns away from the Sun, it becomes nighttime. That’s when we rest, and the stars and Moon come out to shine.
The Sun Doesn’t Move — We Do!
It might look like the Sun moves across the sky — rising in the east and setting in the west.
But really, it’s the Earth spinning that makes it look that way. The Sun stays still while Earth turns.
So, every morning we spin back toward the Sun — hello, sunrise!
And every evening we turn away — goodnight, sunset!
What Happens at Night?
When it’s night where you are, the other side of Earth is facing the Sun and having its day.
That’s why while you’re getting ready for bed, children on the other side of the world are waking up and going to school!
At night, you can see stars, planets, and sometimes the Moon — because there’s no bright sunlight to hide them.
Fun Fact!
Earth isn’t the only planet that spins!
All the planets in our solar system rotate, but they all spin at different speeds. For example, Jupiter spins much faster — its day is only about 10 hours long!
