Another fascinating effect of the elliptical orbit is that Earth's orbital speed changes throughout the year. According to (also known as the Law of Equal Areas), a line connecting a planet to the Sun sweeps out equal areas in equal amounts of time. This means that when Earth is closer to the Sun, it must move faster to cover the larger arc needed to sweep out the same area.
At perihelion, Earth is roughly 91.4 million miles (147 million kilometers) from the Sun.
The average distance from the Earth to the Sun is approximately 93 million miles (149.6 million kilometers). At perihelion, the Earth is about 91.5 million miles (147 million kilometers) away from the Sun, which is roughly 2.5 million miles (4 million kilometers) closer than its average distance. Conversely, at aphelion, which occurs around early July, the Earth is about 94.5 million miles (152.1 million kilometers) away from the Sun. during which month is the earth closest to the sun link
The answer is that the Earth is closest to the Sun in , at the start of the calendar year. This astronomical event is known as perihelion .
You can also search for "Earth perihelion date" on NASA's main site or any reputable astronomy education page for confirmation. Another fascinating effect of the elliptical orbit is
If you want to learn more about perihelion and the Earth's orbit, I can provide some interesting links:
If the Earth is closest to the sun in January, why is it freezing in the northern hemisphere during that time? This paradox highlights the fact that orbital distance is not the driving force behind Earth's seasons. Instead, seasons are caused entirely by the 23.5-degree tilt of the Earth’s rotational axis relative to its orbital plane. At perihelion, Earth is roughly 91
provides visual aids and summaries regarding the relationship between Earth's elliptical orbit and climate patterns. for the next several years? What Causes the Seasons? - National Weather Service
Perihelion is the point in the Earth's orbit where it is closest to the Sun. At this point, the distance between the Earth and the Sun is approximately 91.5 million miles (147 million kilometers). This occurs around early January each year.
Perihelion occurs during their summer, which can lead to slightly more intense solar radiation compared to Northern Hemisphere summers. The Opposite: Aphelion
January 3, 2026, at approximately 17:15 UTC. Distance at Perihelion: About million miles ( 147.1147.1 million kilometers). Farthest Month (Aphelion): July. Distance at Aphelion: Roughly million miles ( million km) farther away than in January. What is Perihelion?