This moment is called perihelion—the instant when our planet is closer to the Sun than at any other time during the year. In 2026, Explore Scientific
“Earth reaches its closest point to the Sun — called perihelion — around January 3–5 each year. Even though the Sun is slightly closer then, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, making it winter.”
January 3rd: When Earth Is Closest to the Sun - Explore Scientific when the earth is closest to the sun
At this point, the Earth is about 147.1 million kilometers (91.4 million miles) from the Sun.
Conversely, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun in January. Because this coincides with our closest approach, Southern Hemisphere summers can be slightly more intense than Northern ones. Hidden Effects of Being Close This moment is called perihelion—the instant when our
When the Earth is closest to the sun, it is also moving at its fastest velocity. We are tearing through space at roughly 67,000 miles per hour, rushing through the point of intimacy because the gravity is so strong. The closer we are to the source, the faster we must move to keep from falling in. The intensity of the proximity requires a velocity of spirit to match it.
This is a map for the human condition.
Perihelion, the point when Earth is closest to the Sun, occurs annually in early January. National Geographic