Many people assume Earth is closest to the Sun in summer because that’s when it’s warmest. But seasons are caused by Earth’s (≈23.5°), not distance from the Sun.

While Earth receives about 7% more solar intensity at perihelion than at aphelion, this increase isn't enough to overcome the effects of the axial tilt.

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This elliptical path is caused by the gravitational pull of other planets, primarily Jupiter and Saturn, which tug on Earth and prevent its orbit from being perfectly circular. However, Earth's orbit is nearly circular—its "eccentricity" is very low. If our orbit were a perfect circle, we would stay the same distance from the Sun all year long. Summary of Key Dates Distance (Approx.) (Closest) 91.4 Million Miles Aphelion (Farthest) 94.5 Million Miles Conclusion

If we are roughly 3 million miles closer to the Sun in January than in July, why isn't the Northern Hemisphere scorching? The answer lies in the .

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There is a subtle physical consequence to being closer in January, however. According to Kepler’s Second Law of Planetary Motion, planets move faster in their orbits when they are nearer to their stars. Because Earth is at perihelion in January, it is currently "speeding" through its orbital path. This makes the northern winter about five days shorter than the northern summer.