A common misconception is that Earth's distance from the sun causes the seasons. If that were true, the entire planet would experience summer at the same time in January. Instead, seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth’s axis (23.5 degrees).
Earth at perihelion – closest to sun – on January 3. ... Your browser can't play this video. ... An error occurred. Try watching t... EarthSky The Seasons and the Earth's Orbit These are the dates when the days are longest for the hemisphere tilted toward the Sun (where it is summer) and shortest for the o... US Naval Observatory Astronomical Applications Department (.mil) Perihelion and Aphelion 2026 - Time and Date Table_title: Distance from the Sun's center to Earth's center will be 152,087,775 km (94,502,962 mi) Table_content: header: | Year... Time and Date What is the Winter Solstice? | Smithsonian Science Education ... Dec 20, 2025 — what season is the earth closest to the sun
Here is a breakdown of why this happens and what it means: A common misconception is that Earth's distance from
While Earth is closer in January, the difference is relatively small. At perihelion, Earth is about 91.4 million miles from the sun. At aphelion (in July), it is about 94.5 million miles away. This 3% difference in distance is not enough to override the effects of the axial tilt, which is the primary driver of seasonal temperature changes. Earth at perihelion – closest to sun – on January 3
Because perihelion happens in early January, the Earth is closest to the sun during the season of winter in the Northern Hemisphere (and summer in the Southern Hemisphere). Conversely, the Earth is farthest from the sun (aphelion) around July 4th, during the Northern Hemisphere's summer.