The Earth does not follow a perfect circle around the Sun, but rather an oval-shaped (elliptical) path. Happy Perihelion 2026 — Earth's Closest Solar Encounter!
In reality, the difference in distance between our closest point (perihelion) and our farthest point (, which occurs in July) is only about 3 million miles—a mere 3% difference. This change is too small to dictate our seasons.
Earth's changing distance from the Sun also affects how fast our planet moves through space. According to Kepler’s Second Law of Planetary Motion, a planet moves faster when it is closer to its star.
The Earth is closest to the Sun during the month of January. Specifically, perihelion typically occurs around the 3rd or 4th of January each year. At this time, the Earth is about 91.5 million miles (147 million kilometers) away from the Sun. during which month is the earth closest to the sun link
To fully appreciate the January 3rd perihelion, it's helpful to understand its counterpart. In early July, Earth reaches its farthest point from the Sun, known as the aphelion. This occurs approximately two weeks after the June solstice. At this point, Earth is about from the Sun.
Many people assume the Earth circles the Sun in a perfect ring. In reality, planetary orbits are oval-shaped, or elliptical. This planetary mechanic was first discovered by astronomer Johannes Kepler. Because the orbit is a slightly squashed circle, the distance between the Earth and the Sun changes continuously throughout our 365-day journey. The Orbital Extremes
Because Earth reaches perihelion in January, it travels at its maximum orbital speed during this time—moving at roughly 19 miles (30.3 kilometers) per second. As a result, winter in the Northern Hemisphere (and summer in the Southern Hemisphere) is about five days shorter than the opposite season in July, as the Earth quickly swings around the Sun. The Earth does not follow a perfect circle
When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun during our winter, the Sun's rays hit us at a more shallow angle and for fewer hours, drastically reducing the solar energy we receive, far outweighing the slight increase in total solar radiation due to Earth's proximity to the Sun. However, for the Southern Hemisphere, January is summertime, as it is tilted toward the Sun, and the closer proximity to the Sun makes its summers slightly warmer than those in the Northern Hemisphere.
The US Naval Observatory Space Calendar tracks these precise shifts. The table below contrasts the dates and distances for recent and upcoming orbital extremes: What Are Perihelion and Aphelion? When Do They Occur?
explains why distance does not cause seasons, focusing instead on the impact of Earth's axial tilt. National Weather Service This change is too small to dictate our seasons
At this point, the Earth is roughly (91.4 million miles) away from our star. This is about 5 million kilometres closer than its farthest point in July. Below is an in-depth breakdown of why this happens, how it affects our planet, and why it does not cause scorching summer weather in the Northern Hemisphere. Understanding Perihelion and Aphelion
In astronomical terms, this is actually quite small. To give you perspective:
Earth is closest to the Sun in early January each year (perihelion). Perihelion typically occurs around January 3–5; aphelion (farthest point) occurs in early July.