Earth Is Closest To The Sun 2021 Jun 2026

The word "perihelion" stems from the Greek words peri (near) and helios (sun). Because Earth’s orbit isn't a perfect circle but rather a slight ellipse (an oval shape), the distance between our planet and the Sun fluctuates throughout the year.

7% more intense sunlight at perihelion than it does at its farthest point. Southern Summer: This extra energy primarily affects the Southern Hemisphere, which is tilted toward the Sun in January. However, because that hemisphere is mostly water—which absorbs heat more efficiently than land—the temperature difference is moderated. EarthDate +3 Quick Comparison Table Feature Perihelion (Closest) Aphelion (Farthest) Typical Date Early January Early July Distance (Miles) ~91.4 million ~94.5 million Orbital Speed ~30.3 km/s (Fastest) ~29.3 km/s (Slowest) Solar Intensity 100% (Baseline) ~93.5% Further Exploration Discover the detailed mathematical breakdown of orbital eccentricity at Science Notes . Read about how the Earth's orbit shifts over thousands of years on EarthSky . Explore why Southern Hemisphere summers are moderated by oceans despite perihelion at NASA's Earth Observatory . Would you like to know the

At perihelion, Earth is approximately (147 million kilometers) away from the Sun. Contrast this with aphelion , which occurs in early July, when we are at our farthest point—about 94.5 million miles (152 million kilometers) away. Why Isn't it Summer in January? earth is closest to the sun

So, the next time you feel a winter chill, remember: you are actually standing at the closest point to the Sun you’ll be all year.

The exact date of perihelion shifts slightly every year due to the gravitational pull of the Moon and other planets, but it consistently falls between . The word "perihelion" stems from the Greek words

: While Earth is closest to the sun in January, the Northern Hemisphere experiences winter. This is because axial tilt , not distance, drives our seasons. In January, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, receiving less direct sunlight.

Three million miles. It sounds significant. It sounds like it should feel like the blast of a furnace. But the atmosphere remains frigid, and the snow continues to fall. Southern Summer: This extra energy primarily affects the

The Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, resulting in shorter days and less direct sunlight.

If we are roughly 3 million miles closer to our solar heat source in January, why is it so cold in the North?

The answer lies in the . Our planet is tilted at an angle of about 23.5 degrees. Seasons are dictated by which hemisphere is leaning toward the Sun, not how close we are to it.

Additionally, Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion dictate that planets move faster when they are closer to their star. Consequently, Earth moves at its maximum orbital velocity during perihelion. This makes the Northern Hemisphere's winter (and the Southern Hemisphere's summer) about five days shorter than the opposite season. When Does it Happen?