In 2026, Earth reached its closest point to the Sun, a point known as perihelion, on January 3rd at 12:15 p.m. EST (17:15 UTC).
At this moment, Earth was approximately 91.4 million miles (147.1 million kilometers) away from the Sun. This is about 3 million miles closer than the farthest point, called aphelion, which typically occurs in early July. Understanding Perihelion vs. Aphelion
The variation in distance occurs because Earth's orbit is not a perfect circle, but a slightly flattened ellipse. Perihelion (Closest) Aphelion (Farthest) Typical Date Early January Early July 2026 Date January 3, 2026 July 6, 2026 Approx. Distance 91.4 million miles 94.5 million miles Orbital Speed Fastest (~19 mi/sec) Slowest (~18 mi/sec) Common Misconceptions Earth at perihelion – closest to sun – on January 3
Earth is closest to the Sun every year in early January. This specific point in our planet's annual orbit is known as perihelion. Key Details for 2026
In 2026, Earth reached perihelion on January 3 at 12:15 p.m. EST (17:15 UTC).
Distance: Approximately 91.4 million miles (147.1 million kilometers).
Comparison: This is roughly 3.1 million miles (5 million kilometers) closer than Earth’s farthest point, aphelion, which occurs in July.
Orbital Speed: Earth moves fastest at this point, traveling at about 30.3 kilometers per second. Common Misconceptions
Seasons: Many find it counterintuitive that Earth is closest to the Sun during the Northern Hemisphere's winter. Seasons are caused by the 23.5-degree tilt of Earth's axis, not its distance from the Sun.
Temperature: While the Sun's intensity is about 7% greater at perihelion than at aphelion, the effect on global climate is minimal because the Southern Hemisphere (which is tilted toward the Sun in January) is mostly water, which absorbs heat more steadily than land. Future Perihelion Dates when is earth closest to the sun
The exact date of perihelion shifts slightly each year due to the Gregorian calendar and gravitational influences from the Moon and other planets. According to Time and Date, upcoming dates include:
What Causes the Seasons? | NASA Space Place – NASA Science for Kids
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? Understanding Perihelion When we think about the seasons, it’s natural to assume that summer happens because we are physically closer to the Sun. However, the reality of celestial mechanics is much more counterintuitive. In fact, for those living in the Northern Hemisphere, Earth is actually at its closest point to the Sun during the coldest part of the year.
This specific orbital milestone is known as perihelion. Here is everything you need to know about when it happens, why it occurs, and how it affects our planet. The Short Answer: Early January
Earth reaches its closest point to the Sun, or perihelion, around January 2nd to January 5th each year.
At this moment, Earth is approximately 91.4 million miles (147 million kilometers) away from the Sun. Contrast this with aphelion—the point where Earth is farthest from the Sun—which occurs in early July at a distance of about 94.5 million miles (152 million kilometers). Why Doesn’t the Distance Stay the Same?
If Earth moved in a perfect circle, our distance from the Sun would never change. However, as Johannes Kepler discovered in the 17th century, planetary orbits are elliptical (oval-shaped). In 2026, Earth reached its closest point to
While Earth’s orbit is nearly circular, it is slightly "eccentric." This slight stretch in our orbital path means there is about a 3-million-mile difference between our closest and farthest points. If We Are Closer in January, Why Is It Cold?
This is the most common point of confusion. If we are 3 million miles closer to our heat source in January, why are we shivering in Chicago or London? The answer lies in the tilt of Earth’s axis.
The Tilt: Earth doesn’t sit upright; it tilts at an angle of about 23.5 degrees.
The Seasons: Seasons are caused by which hemisphere is leaning toward the Sun, not how far away the planet is.
January Paradox: In January, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun. Even though we are physically closer to the Sun at perihelion, the tilt causes the sunlight to hit the Northern Hemisphere at a shallow angle, spreading the energy thin and creating winter.
Meanwhile, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun in January, which is why they experience their peak summer during perihelion. Does Perihelion Affect the Weather at All?
While the 3% difference in distance isn't enough to cause the seasons, it does have a subtle impact. Because Earth is closer to the Sun during the Southern Hemisphere's summer, their summers can technically be slightly warmer than those in the Northern Hemisphere.
Additionally, according to Kepler’s Second Law, planets move faster in their orbits when they are closer to the Sun. This means Earth is actually traveling at its top orbital speed in early January. As a result, winter in the Northern Hemisphere is about five days shorter than summer! Summary of Key Dates Perihelion (Closest): Early January (~91.4 million miles) Aphelion (Farthest): Early July (~94.5 million miles)
The next time you’re walking through a January snowstorm, remember: you’re actually as close to the Sun as you’ll be all year. It’s just the Earth’s tilt that’s keeping you cold. Myth 2: “The elliptical orbit is extreme, like
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.
For our friends in Australia, South Africa, and South America, early January is the middle of summer. This aligns perfectly with their intuition. When the Southern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun (December to February), they receive direct sunlight and experience summer. The fact that Earth is also at perihelion (closest to the sun) during their summer amplifies their summers slightly.
Meanwhile, during their winter (July), Earth is at aphelion (farthest from the sun), making their winters slightly cooler than they would otherwise be.
False. The cold of winter is due to the tilt of Earth’s axis, not distance. In fact, the Northern Hemisphere is closest to the sun during its coldest period.
If you photograph the sun at the same time every day for a year and overlay the images, you’ll see a figure-eight pattern called an analemma. The “lopsided” shape of this figure-eight is caused by two factors: Earth’s axial tilt and the fact that we are moving faster at perihelion (January) and slower at aphelion (July). This affects the time of solar noon throughout the year.
| Myth | Reality | |------|---------| | “Earth is closest in summer.” | No – it’s closest in January (winter in the north). | | “Distance causes seasons.” | False – tilt is the primary cause. | | “Perihelion happens on the same date every year.” | It varies by ~1–2 days due to leap years and planetary gravity. | | “The Sun feels hotter at perihelion.” | Only if you’re in the southern hemisphere summer; otherwise, tilt dominates. |
The exact time shifts due to:
Over very long timescales (tens of thousands of years), the date of perihelion precesses due to the slow rotation of Earth’s elliptical orbit (apsidal precession). Right now, perihelion aligns with northern winter, but in ~10,000 years, it will align with northern summer, dramatically changing seasonality.
This is the crucial piece of the puzzle. Seasons are not caused by our distance from the sun. They are caused by Earth’s axial tilt (about 23.5 degrees).
Meanwhile, the Southern Hemisphere experiences the exact opposite. When it’s winter in New York (January), it’s summer in Sydney—even though Earth is closest to the sun.
The Southern Hemisphere also has more extreme seasons because perihelion occurs during their summer (adding extra heat) and aphelion during their winter (adding extra chill).