A(n) _____________________________________ occurs when Earth's rotation axis is the most toward or awar from the sun.

A(n) solstice occurs when Earth's rotation axis is the most tilted either toward or away from the sun. There are two solstices each year: the summer solstice, which occurs around June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere when the axis is tilted toward the sun, and the winter solstice, around December 21, when it is tilted away from the sun. These positions result in the longest and shortest days of the year, respectively, influencing seasonal changes in climate and daylight. Solstices are important astronomical events that have been observed and celebrated by many cultures throughout history, marking transitions that indicate the changing nature of the seasons.