Nearest To The Sun — When Is The Earth

Because the Gregorian calendar doesn't perfectly match Earth's orbit, the exact date and time shift slightly each year:

While it might seem like being closer to the sun should make the Earth hotter, it is actually winter in the Northern Hemisphere during perihelion. Seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis (approx. 23.5 degrees), not its distance from the sun. Future Perihelion Dates when is the earth nearest to the sun

So why is January cold in the Northern Hemisphere? 👉 It’s all about the , not our distance from the Sun. During perihelion, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun — meaning shorter days and less direct sunlight. Future Perihelion Dates So why is January cold

Earth reaches its nearest point to the sun, known as , in early January each year. In 2026 , this event occurred on January 3rd at 17:15 UTC . Key Facts About Perihelion Earth reaches its nearest point to the sun,

It may seem surprising that Earth is closest to the sun during the Northern Hemisphere's winter, but there is a scientific explanation for this.

Here is a helpful guide to understanding perihelion: