At What Point Is Earth Closest To The Sun |verified| Jun 2026

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.

shortest season of the year, lasting nearly five days less than the summer. EarthSky +2 Upcoming Dates for Perihelion The exact timing of perihelion shifts slightly each year because our calendar doesn't perfectly match our orbit. Use the Time and Date Perihelion Calculator to check the precise moment for future years. Space +1 Year Date Time (UTC) 2026 January 3 17:15 2027 January 3 02:33 2028 January 5 12:28 2029 January 2 18:13 Would you like to explore how at what point is earth closest to the sun

So, the next time you bundle up against a cold January wind, remember this counterintuitive fact: You are actually standing closer to the Sun than at any other time of the year. The seasons, it turns out, are not about distance—they are about angle. In astronomical terms, Earth’s orbit around the Sun

While it might seem counterintuitive for those in the Northern Hemisphere experiencing winter, Earth is actually about 3 million miles (5 million kilometers) closer to the sun in January than it is in July. When Does Perihelion Happen? shortest season of the year, lasting nearly five

In 2026, perihelion occurred on January 3 at approximately 17:16 UTC (11:00 a.m. CST).