Rotation and Revolution

Hello. I have a secret to share. Have you ever wondered why the sun plays peek-a-boo, showing its bright face in the morning and hiding at night? That’s me. I help our big, beautiful Earth do a little dance. It’s a slow, gentle spin, like a top twirling around and around. This special spinning dance is called Rotation. I make sure everyone on Earth gets a turn to feel the sun’s warm hug and see the moon’s sleepy glow. A very long time ago, on February 19th, 1473, a man named Nicolaus Copernicus was born, and when he grew up, he looked at the sky and guessed my secret. He was one of the first people to understand my little spin.

But that’s not my only dance. While the Earth is busy spinning, I also help it take a very big, long walk. It’s a giant journey in a huge circle all the way around the sun. This walk is so long it takes a whole year to finish. That’s from one birthday all the way to your next one. This super-long trip is my other secret dance, and it’s called Revolution. A man named Galileo Galilei, who was born on February 15th, 1564, made a special looking glass to see things far away. He watched the planets and stars, and he saw me taking my big walk. He knew Nicolaus was right. So, I am really two dancers in one: Rotation and Revolution.

Together, my spinning and walking dances create your wonderful world. My spin gives you daytime for playing and nighttime for dreaming. My long walk around the sun brings you all the seasons—sunny summer days for splashing in the water, colorful autumn leaves for crunching, chilly winters for snuggling in cozy blankets, and fresh spring flowers to smell. Every single time you wake up to a new day or get ready to blow out your birthday candles, you know I’m here, dancing with the Earth just for you. I never, ever stop dancing so you can have your days, your years, and your wonderful seasons.