: Earth reached perihelion on January 3, 2026 , at approximately 17:15 UTC.
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?
Interestingly, while distance is not the cause of the seasons, perihelion does have a subtle but measurable impact on the calendar. According to Kepler’s Second Law of Planetary Motion, a planet moves faster when it is closer to the star it orbits. Therefore, Earth travels at its maximum orbital speed during perihelion. This increased velocity shortens the length of the seasons in the Northern Hemisphere. Because Earth is moving faster, the time from the vernal equinox to the autumnal equinox is about five days shorter than the opposing half of the year. This is why astronomical spring and summer in the Northern Hemisphere are slightly shorter than autumn and winter.
Every 100,000 years, gravitational forces cause Earth's eccentricity to fluctuate from nearly circular ( 0.0050.005 ) to more deeply elliptical ( 0.0600.060
How perihelion affects and satellite orbits. Share public link when is earth closest to the sun
the Sun right as we reach our closest point, making their summers slightly more intense than those in the North. Moving at "Warp Speed"
At this moment, Earth is approximately (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?
How can we be closer to the sun during winter?
Let’s dive deep into the science, the dates, the myths, and why this cosmic near-miss doesn’t give us a global heatwave. : Earth reached perihelion on January 3, 2026
The Earth's orbit around the Sun is not a perfect circle, but rather an ellipse with the Sun at one of the two foci. This elliptical shape, described by Kepler's laws of planetary motion, results in the Earth's distance from the Sun varying throughout the year. The closest point in this orbit is called perihelion, while the farthest point is known as aphelion.
For Earth:
Earth rushes through the winter portion of its orbit quickly.
Perihelion, the point when Earth is closest to the Sun, occurs annually in early January. National Geographic What Causes the Seasons? - National Weather Service Interestingly, while distance is not the cause of
Seasons are caused by which hemisphere is leaning toward the Sun, not how far away the planet is.
You cannot “see” Earth being closer to the sun, but you can observe two subtle effects:
Earth reaches perihelion every year .
Approximately 91.4 million miles (147.1 million km).