The Perihelion: When Earth Makes Its Closest Approach to the Sun
We’re Closest to the Sun Right Now (No, It’s Not Summer)
Earth does not sit upright; it is tilted on its axis by about 23.5 degrees. Seasons are caused by which hemisphere is leaning toward the Sun, not how close the planet is to it.
Perihelion occurs annually in the first week of January.
Many people imagine Earth’s orbit as a perfect circle, but it is actually a slight (an elongated circle). This path was first described by Johannes Kepler in the early 17th century. Because the orbit isn't perfectly round, the distance between the Earth and the Sun varies by about 3 million miles throughout the year.
The Perihelion: When Earth Makes Its Closest Approach to the Sun
We’re Closest to the Sun Right Now (No, It’s Not Summer) earth closest to sun
Earth does not sit upright; it is tilted on its axis by about 23.5 degrees. Seasons are caused by which hemisphere is leaning toward the Sun, not how close the planet is to it. The Perihelion: When Earth Makes Its Closest Approach
Perihelion occurs annually in the first week of January. earth closest to sun
Many people imagine Earth’s orbit as a perfect circle, but it is actually a slight (an elongated circle). This path was first described by Johannes Kepler in the early 17th century. Because the orbit isn't perfectly round, the distance between the Earth and the Sun varies by about 3 million miles throughout the year.