That’s right. When the Northern Hemisphere is shivering through winter, our planet is actually about 3 million miles closer to the Sun than during summer.
The Perihelion: When Earth Makes Its Closest Approach to the Sun
Seasons aren’t caused by distance from the Sun. They’re caused by Earth’s tilt . During Northern Hemisphere winter, we’re tilted away from the Sun, so sunlight hits at a lower angle, spreading out the energy.
While the 3% difference in distance doesn't drastically change our daily lives, it is a reminder of the dynamic nature of our home in space. The Sun appears about 3.6% larger in the sky during perihelion than it does at aphelion—though this change is too small for the human eye to detect without specialized equipment.
Seasons are caused by the tilt of Earth’s axis (23.5 degrees), not by distance.
Perihelion typically occurs around early January, around January 3-4. This date can vary slightly from year to year due to the elliptical shape of the Earth's orbit.
At perihelion, Earth is approximately (147 million kilometers) from the Sun. Conversely, six months later in July, we reach aphelion , our farthest point, sitting about 94.5 million miles (152 million kilometers) away. Why Distance Doesn't Dictate Season
Here’s a draft for a social media post or blog short on the topic. You can adjust the tone (casual, educational, or surprising) depending on your audience.
That’s right. When the Northern Hemisphere is shivering through winter, our planet is actually about 3 million miles closer to the Sun than during summer.
The Perihelion: When Earth Makes Its Closest Approach to the Sun
Seasons aren’t caused by distance from the Sun. They’re caused by Earth’s tilt . During Northern Hemisphere winter, we’re tilted away from the Sun, so sunlight hits at a lower angle, spreading out the energy. earth closest to sun
While the 3% difference in distance doesn't drastically change our daily lives, it is a reminder of the dynamic nature of our home in space. The Sun appears about 3.6% larger in the sky during perihelion than it does at aphelion—though this change is too small for the human eye to detect without specialized equipment.
Seasons are caused by the tilt of Earth’s axis (23.5 degrees), not by distance. That’s right
Perihelion typically occurs around early January, around January 3-4. This date can vary slightly from year to year due to the elliptical shape of the Earth's orbit.
At perihelion, Earth is approximately (147 million kilometers) from the Sun. Conversely, six months later in July, we reach aphelion , our farthest point, sitting about 94.5 million miles (152 million kilometers) away. Why Distance Doesn't Dictate Season They’re caused by Earth’s tilt
Here’s a draft for a social media post or blog short on the topic. You can adjust the tone (casual, educational, or surprising) depending on your audience.