At What Point Is Earth Closest To The Sun |top| Page

In astronomical terms, Earth’s orbit around the Sun is not a perfect circle but an ellipse—a slightly stretched circle. The Sun does not sit at the center of this ellipse but at one of its two focal points. Consequently, Earth’s distance from the Sun changes throughout the year.

The point in early July when Earth is approximately 94.5 million miles away. Earth at perihelion – closest to sun – on January 3 at what point is earth closest to the sun

The date of perihelion is not fixed on the calendar. It slowly drifts due to gravitational influences. Currently, perihelion occurs around , and aphelion occurs around July 3–5 . However, over a very long period (roughly 21,000 years), the timing of perihelion shifts due to the precession of the equinoxes. In about 10,000 years, perihelion will occur in July instead of January, making Northern Hemisphere summers even hotter and winters even colder—though the tilt of the axis will still be the primary driver of seasons. In astronomical terms, Earth’s orbit around the Sun