What Month Is Earth Closest To Sun _hot_ Jun 2026

Earth reaches (its closest point to the Sun) approximately two weeks after the December solstice.

The specific point in Earth’s orbit where it is nearest to the Sun is called . The word comes from the Greek words peri (near) and helios (sun).

The reason Earth’s distance from the Sun changes at all is that our orbit is not a perfect circle; it is an (an oval shape). what month is earth closest to sun

There is a subtle physical consequence to being closer in January, however. According to Kepler’s Second Law of Planetary Motion, planets move faster in their orbits when they are nearer to their stars. Because Earth is at perihelion in January, it is currently "speeding" through its orbital path. This makes the northern winter about five days shorter than the northern summer.

Conversely, the point in Earth's orbit when it is farthest from the Sun is called aphelion, which occurs around early July, with an average distance of about 94.5 million miles (152 million kilometers) between the Earth and the Sun. Earth reaches (its closest point to the Sun)

The point in Earth's orbit when it is closest to the Sun is called perihelion. This occurs around early January, when the average distance between the Earth and the Sun is approximately 91.5 million miles (147 million kilometers).

The Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun in January, so sunlight hits at a lower angle and days are shorter → colder winter. Meanwhile, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun → summer heat. The reason Earth’s distance from the Sun changes

For those in the Southern Hemisphere (like Australia or South America), perihelion actually occurs during their summer. This can lead to slightly more intense summer sun compared to the Northern Hemisphere's summer in July. The Shape of Our Orbit