Earth Closest To Sun Month Perihelion ((top)) Guide

Yes. The date of perihelion shifts over thousands of years due to a phenomenon called .

Will perihelion date change over time? A: Very slowly. Due to precession of Earth’s orbit, perihelion shifts about 1 day every 58 years relative to the seasons. earth closest to sun month perihelion

| Fact | Detail | | :--- | :--- | | | January (usually Jan 3rd or 4th) | | Distance | ~91.4 million miles (147.1 million km) | | Hemisphere Impact | Slightly intensifies Southern Hemisphere summer. | | Visual Change | Sun appears ~3% larger than in July. | | Orbital Speed | Earth is moving at its fastest speed of the year. | A: Very slowly

The exact date and time shift slightly each year due to variations in the Gregorian calendar and gravitational influences from the Moon and other planets. On this day, Earth is about 91.4 million miles (147 million km) from the sun, compared to the roughly 94.5 million miles (152 million km) it reaches at its farthest point, known as , in early July. Why Proximity Doesn't Mean Heat | | Visual Change | Sun appears ~3% larger than in July

Does perihelion cause extreme heat? A: No — Southern Hemisphere gets more direct sunlight in January (its summer), but they are slightly closer to the Sun, making their summers a bit warmer than Northern summers, and winters a bit milder.

You cannot look at the Sun with the naked eye to "see" perihelion—it looks exactly the same as any other day. However, you can observe the effects: