Because Earth travels faster at perihelion, the season occurring at this time (Northern Hemisphere winter / Southern Hemisphere summer) is roughly than the season occurring at aphelion.
So, despite winter in the Northern Hemisphere, Earth is actually closest to the Sun in early January. The seasons are caused by the tilt of Earth’s axis, not by its distance from the Sun.
Earth reaches perihelion approximately , typically falling between January 2nd and January 5th. when is earth closest to the sun
Earth does not orbit the Sun in a perfect circle; it follows an .
If distance were the primary driver of seasons, the entire planet would experience summer simultaneously in January and winter simultaneously in July. Because Earth travels faster at perihelion, the season
Roughly 91.4 million miles (147.1 million kilometers). Why is it cold in January? Happy Perihelion 2026 — Earth's Closest Solar Encounter!
Earth reaches its closest point to the Sun annually in early January, a phenomenon known scientifically as . Contrary to common intuition, this proximity does not cause warmer weather in the Northern Hemisphere; in fact, Earth is closest to the Sun during the Northern Hemisphere's winter. This report details the specific timing, the astronomical mechanics behind the event, and clarifies the relationship between Earth's distance from the Sun and seasonal temperature changes. Roughly 91
Because Earth is closer to the Sun in January, the solar radiation received is about than at aphelion in July. This has a moderating effect on global seasons:
The US Naval Observatory Rocket Orbit Data tracks these precise temporal anomalies. Date of Perihelion Exact Time (UTC) Core Solar Distance 147,103,637 km / 91,403,637 mi 2027 147,106,556 km / 91,406,556 mi 2028 147,104,129 km / 91,404,129 mi 2029 147,102,677 km / 91,402,677 mi 🌌 The Mechanics of Perihelion vs. Aphelion
October 26, 2023 Subject: Analysis of the timing, mechanics, and implications of Earth’s perihelion.
The Earth is closest to the Sun in , an astronomical milestone known as perihelion . During this yearly event, the Earth sits approximately 147.1 million kilometers (91.4 million miles) from the center of the Sun.