Earth is closest to the Sun every year in early January. This point in its elliptical orbit is called perihelion. Key Dates and Details
2026 Date: Earth reached perihelion on January 3, 2026, at approximately 17:15 UTC.
Distance: At this point, Earth is roughly 147.1 million kilometers (91.4 million miles) from the Sun.
Variation: This is about 5 million kilometers closer than its farthest point (aphelion) in early July.
Orbital Speed: Earth travels faster at perihelion—approximately 30.3 km/s—compared to 29.3 km/s in July, making Northern Hemisphere winters slightly shorter than its summers. Why It's Still Cold in the North
What Causes the Seasons? | NASA Space Place – NASA Science for Kids
Earth is closest to the sun during an astronomical event called perihelion , which occurs every year in early January At this point, Earth is approximately 91.4 million miles
(147.1 million km) away from the sun, which is about 3 million miles closer than its farthest point (aphelion) in July. www.thesuntoday.org Timing of Perihelion
The exact date and time change slightly every year because our calendar doesn't perfectly match Earth's elliptical orbit. For the current and upcoming years, perihelion falls on: National Geographic January 3 at 17:15 UTC (12:15 p.m. EST) January 3 at 02:33 UTC (January 2 at 9:33 p.m. EST) January 5 at 12:28 UTC (7:28 a.m. EST) AstroPixels Why Is It Cold if We Are Closer?
It is a common misconception that distance from the sun causes the seasons. In reality, seasons are driven by Earth's 23.5-degree axial tilt Explore Scientific Northern Hemisphere: In January, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted
from the sun, leading to winter despite being physically closer to the heat source. Southern Hemisphere: Conversely, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted
the sun during perihelion, which makes their summers slightly more intense than those in the north. Explore Scientific Key Effects of Perihelion
Earth at Perihelion and Aphelion: 2001 to 2100 - AstroPixels
Earth reaches its closest point to the sun, an orbital milestone called perihelion, in early January each year. During this event, Earth is approximately 91.4 million miles (147.1 million kilometers) away from the sun. Core Details of Perihelion
It's Cold Outside, but Earth Is at Its Closest Approach to the Sun
When is Earth Closest to the Sun?
The Earth orbits the Sun in an elliptical path, which means that the distance between our planet and the Sun varies throughout the year. The point in the Earth's orbit when it is closest to the Sun is called perihelion, and the point when it is farthest from the Sun is called aphelion.
According to NASA, the Earth reaches perihelion around early January, specifically on: when is earth closest to the sun
At this time, the Earth is approximately 91.5 million miles (147 million kilometers) away from the Sun.
On the other hand, the Earth reaches aphelion around early July, specifically on:
At this time, the Earth is approximately 94.5 million miles (152 million kilometers) away from the Sun.
So, to summarize:
It's worth noting that the difference in distance between perihelion and aphelion has a relatively small effect on the Earth's climate, as the amount of solar energy the Earth receives is influenced by other factors, such as the tilt of its axis and the distribution of land and sea.
Report: Earth's Closest Approach to the Sun
Introduction
The Earth's orbit around the Sun is an elliptical path, which means that the distance between our planet and the Sun varies throughout the year. At certain times, the Earth is closer to the Sun, and at other times, it is farther away. This report aims to provide information on when the Earth is closest to the Sun, a phenomenon known as perihelion.
What is Perihelion?
Perihelion is the point in the Earth's orbit when it is closest to the Sun. At this point, the Earth is approximately 91.5 million miles (147 million kilometers) away from the Sun. This occurs when the Earth is on the opposite side of its orbit from the Sun, which happens around early January.
When is Earth Closest to the Sun?
The Earth is closest to the Sun around January 3rd or 4th every year. This date can vary slightly from year to year due to the elliptical shape of the Earth's orbit and the gravitational pull of other planets.
Perihelion Date and Distance for the Next Few Years:
| Year | Perihelion Date | Distance from Sun (miles) | Distance from Sun (kilometers) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2023 | January 4th | 91,445,000 | 147,095,000 | | 2024 | January 3rd | 91,455,000 | 147,115,000 | | 2025 | January 3rd | 91,465,000 | 147,135,000 |
Why Does Perihelion Occur in January?
You might expect that perihelion would occur during the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere, when the Earth is tilted towards the Sun. However, the Earth's orbit is not synchronized with its axial tilt. The perihelion occurs when the Earth is at a specific point in its orbit, which happens to be around January 3rd or 4th.
Effects of Perihelion
Perihelion has some effects on our planet:
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Earth is closest to the Sun around January 3rd or 4th every year, a phenomenon known as perihelion. At this point, the Earth is approximately 91.5 million miles (147 million kilometers) away from the Sun. While perihelion has some effects on our planet, such as increased solar energy, it does not have a significant impact on Earth's temperature.
References
Appendix
For those interested in calculating the Earth's distance from the Sun at perihelion, the following formula can be used:
r = a (1 - e^2) / (1 + e cos(θ))
where:
However, this calculation requires a good understanding of astronomy and orbital mechanics. For simplicity, the perihelion date and distance can be looked up or obtained from reliable astronomical sources.
Earth is closest to the Sun in early January each year, a point in its orbit known as perihelion The Timing of Perihelion
While the exact date shifts slightly due to the calendar's leap year cycle, perihelion typically occurs about two weeks after the December solstice. For the upcoming years, the closest approaches are: January 3 at 12:15 p.m. EST January 2 at 9:38 p.m. EST January 5 at 7:26 a.m. EST Time and Date Proximity and Distance
The distance between the Earth and Sun at perihelion is approximately 91.4 million miles (147 million kilometers). This is about 3 million miles closer
than the farthest point, called aphelion, which occurs in early July. At perihelion, the Sun appears roughly 3.4% larger
in the sky, though this change is not noticeable to the naked eye. National Geographic Why Is It Still Cold in Winter?
It is a common misconception that distance from the Sun causes the seasons. In reality, seasons are driven by Earth's 23.5-degree axial tilt NASA Space Place (.gov)
Earth reaches its closest point to the Sun, a position known as perihelion, annually in early January. Despite common assumptions that distance drives the seasons, Earth is actually closest to the Sun during the Northern Hemisphere's winter. Key Timing and Data
The exact date of perihelion varies slightly each year because the Gregorian calendar does not perfectly align with Earth's elliptical orbit. It typically falls between January 2nd and January 5th. Earth is closest to the Sun every year in early January
2026 Date: January 3, 2026, at approximately 17:15 UTC (12:15 p.m. EST).
Distance: Approximately 91.4 million miles (147.1 million km).
Comparison: This is about 3 million miles closer than at its farthest point (aphelion) in early July. Perihelion Date Approximate Distance 2026 91.4 million miles 2027 91.4 million miles 2028 91.4 million miles 2029 91.4 million miles Why Distance Doesn't Cause Seasons
Earth's seasons are caused by its 23.5-degree axial tilt, not its proximity to the Sun. In January, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, receiving less direct sunlight and experiencing shorter days, which outweighs the modest increase in solar intensity from being closer to the star. Notable Effects of Perihelion
While the change in distance is only about 3%, it has several subtle impacts:
The Seasons, the Equinox, and the Solstices - National Weather Service
| Event | Date (approx.) | Distance from Sun | Northern Hemisphere Season | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Perihelion (Closest) | January 2-5 | ~91.4 million miles | Winter (Cold) | | Aphelion (Farthest) | July 4-7 | ~94.5 million miles | Summer (Hot) |
False. If you drew Earth’s orbit on a sheet of paper, you would struggle to tell it apart from a circle. It’s only 1.67% away from perfectly circular. Many other planets (like Mercury and Mars) have much more elliptical orbits.
Every schoolchild learns that Earth orbits the sun. But a surprisingly common misconception is that our planet’s changing seasons—sweltering summers and freezing winters—are caused by Earth moving closer to or farther from the sun.
If that were true, you might logically assume that Earth is closest to the sun during the hot, summer months. But the reality is far more fascinating—and counterintuitive.
So, when is Earth closest to the sun?
The precise answer is: Earth reaches its closest point to the sun in early January, approximately two weeks after the Northern Hemisphere’s winter solstice.
This annual event is known as perihelion (from the Greek words peri, meaning "near," and helios, meaning "sun").
Let’s dive deep into the science, the dates, the myths, and why this cosmic near-miss doesn’t give us a global heatwave.
| Event | Date | Distance from Sun | Hemisphere Effect | |-------|------|------------------|-------------------| | Perihelion | January 3–4 | ~91.4 million miles | Northern winter / Southern summer | | Aphelion | July 4–5 | ~94.5 million miles | Northern summer / Southern winter |
Earth reaches its closest point to the Sun—called perihelion—every year in early January, roughly two weeks after the December (northern‑hemisphere) solstice. The opposite point, aphelion (farthest from the Sun), occurs in early July.