Interestingly, because of the elliptical orbit, Earth moves slightly faster when it is closer to the Sun (perihelion) and slower when it is farther away (aphelion), according to Kepler's laws of planetary motion.
During perihelion, Earth is approximately 147 million kilometres (about 91.4 million miles) away from the Sun. Conversely, Earth reaches its farthest point from the Sun, known as , in early July, when it sits about 152 million kilometres (94.5 million miles) away. This means our planet is about 5 million kilometres closer to its star in January than in July. Why Earth’s Distance Changes: The Elliptical Orbit
While the change in distance does not cause the seasons, it does mildly influence their intensity. when is earth closest to the sun
For example, recent perihelions have occurred on:
Earth is tilted at an angle of relative to its orbital plane. Interestingly, because of the elliptical orbit, Earth moves
While perihelion always occurs in early January, the exact date and time shift slightly from year to year. For example, it may fall on January 2nd in one year and January 4th or 5th in another. Two primary factors cause this calendar drift: 1. The Leap Year Cycle
This is the most common and understandable misconception. If we're closest to the Sun in January, why is it winter in the Northern Hemisphere? The answer is that This means our planet is about 5 million
: Earth reached perihelion on January 3, 2026 , at approximately 17:15 UTC.