The specific timing of perihelion varies slightly from year to year . For 2026, it occurs on . Time (UTC) Approximate Distance 2026 Jan 3 17:15 147.1 million km (91.4 million miles) 147.1 million km (91.4 million miles) 147.1 million km (91.4 million miles) 147.1 million km (91.4 million miles)
The Winter Surprise: When Earth is Closest to the Sun If you’re currently shivering through a Northern Hemisphere winter, you might find it hard to believe that Earth is actually closest to the sun right now. when is earth closest to the sun
(91.4 million miles) from the Sun. This is about 5 million kilometers closer than during (the farthest point), which occurs in early July. The Old Farmer’s Almanac Radiation Intensity: The Earth receives about 7% more solar energy in January than in July because of this closer proximity. Sun's Size: The Sun appears roughly 3.4% larger The specific timing of perihelion varies slightly from
| Feature | Value | |---------|-------| | Date range | Jan 3–5 (varies slightly year to year) | | Distance | 147.09–147.10 million km (0.9833 AU) | | Orbital speed at perihelion | ~30.3 km/s (faster than average) | | Solar disk size | ~32.6 arcminutes (slightly larger than at aphelion) | | Solar radiation received | ~1,410 W/m² (vs ~1,320 W/m² at aphelion) | Sun's Size: The Sun appears roughly 3
What Causes the Seasons? | NASA Space Place – NASA Science for Kids
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 (oval-shaped).