Earth Is Closest - To The Sun

At perihelion, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, which is why we experience winter despite being slightly closer to our star. The slight change in distance (about 3.3% closer than at aphelion, in early July) is less significant for seasons than the .

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 earth is closest to the sun

: 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. At perihelion, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away

So, while you’re bundling up in January, Earth is actually making its annual close pass by the Sun. Southern Summer: This extra energy primarily affects the