Earth Is Closest To The Sun (2026)

: 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.

Yet, astronomically speaking, this is the moment of greatest intimacy. earth is closest to the sun

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 . : While Earth is closest to the sun

: Earth receives about 7% more solar energy during perihelion than at aphelion. This slightly amplifies the Southern Hemisphere’s summer heat, though the effect is moderated because that hemisphere is largely covered by ocean. Yet, astronomically speaking, this is the moment of

Many people assume Earth is farthest from the Sun during winter, but the opposite is true. Earth reaches its closest point to the Sun—called —each year around January 3–5 , when it is approximately 91.4 million miles (147.1 million kilometers) away.

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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 .