Perihelion: Analysis of Earth’s Closest Point to the Sun
| Effect | Description | |--------|-------------| | | Earth receives about 6.9% more solar energy at perihelion than at aphelion. | | Orbital speed | Earth moves faster in its orbit at perihelion (Kepler’s Second Law: planets move faster when closer to the Sun). | | Seasonal length | Winter in the Northern Hemisphere is the shortest season (~89 days) because Earth moves quickly through that part of its orbit. Summer in the Northern Hemisphere is the longest (~93.5 days). | | Temperature | Despite being closer to the Sun, January is cold in the Northern Hemisphere because sunlight strikes at a low angle and days are short. The Southern Hemisphere, experiencing summer, receives more direct sunlight. | earth closest point sun month
Contrary to common misconception, Earth is not closest to the Sun during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer (June). Instead, Earth reaches its closest point to the Sun—known as perihelion —every year in early January , typically between January 2nd and January 5th. Perihelion: Analysis of Earth’s Closest Point to the
Note: Slight annual variation due to gravitational perturbations from Jupiter and other planets. Summer in the Northern Hemisphere is the longest (~93
The seasons are caused by Earth’s axial tilt (≈23.5°), not by distance. When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun (winter), Earth happens to be at its closest orbital point to the Sun. This is a coincidence of timing.
| Year | Perihelion Date & Time (UTC) | Distance (million km) | |------|------------------------------|------------------------| | 2024 | Jan 3, 00:38 | 147.1 | | 2025 | Jan 4, 13:28 | 147.1 | | 2026 | Jan 3, 17:15 | 147.1 | | 2027 | Jan 3, 23:00 | 147.1 | | 2028 | Jan 5, 12:00 | 147.1 |
