Point Sun Date - Earth Closest

During perihelion, the Sun is about to Earth than it is during aphelion (which occurs in July).

ellipse rather than a perfect circle, the distance between the planet and the sun varies by about 3% (roughly 3 million miles) throughout the year. Orbital Point Date (2026) Distance (Miles) Distance (Kilometers) Perihelion (Closest) January 3 ~91.4 million ~147.1 million Aphelion (Farthest) July 6 ~94.5 million ~152.1 million AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses Copy Creating a public link... You can now share this thread with others Good response Bad response 8 sites The largest sun of 2026 rises today as Earth draws closest to ... Jan 3, 2026 —

While the date shifts slightly due to the leap year cycle and the slight wobble of Earth's orbit, it almost always falls within the first few days of the year. earth closest point sun date

Interestingly, because Earth is closer to the Sun during perihelion, it moves slightly faster in its elliptical orbit (thanks to Kepler’s laws of planetary motion). This means Northern Hemisphere winters are a few days shorter and milder than Southern Hemisphere winters — a small but measurable effect.

☀️ Because Earth is moving faster in January, the Sun appears slightly larger in the sky, though the difference is too small for the human eye to detect without specialized equipment. During perihelion, the Sun is about to Earth

| Event | Date (approx.) | Distance from Sun | Hemisphere effect | |----------------|----------------|-------------------------|----------------------------------------| | | January 3–4 | ~91.4 million miles | Northern winter / Southern summer | | Aphelion | July 4–5 | ~94.5 million miles | Northern summer / Southern winter |

While you might expect the closest approach to happen during a sweltering summer, Earth actually reaches its nearest point to the Sun in the dead of winter for the Northern Hemisphere. This date, known as , usually falls on January 3rd or 4th . You can now share this thread with others

At perihelion, Earth is approximately 91.4 million miles (147 million kilometers) from the Sun. In contrast, at its farthest point (aphelion) in July, Earth is about 94.5 million miles (152 million kilometers) away. This variation represents a difference of roughly 3 million miles. Why the Date Changes Each Year