When Is Earth Closest To | The Sun

When Is Earth Closest to the Sun? Debunking the Seasons vs. Distance Myth

Every schoolchild learns that Earth orbits the sun. But a surprisingly common misconception is that our planet’s changing seasons—sweltering summers and freezing winters—are caused by Earth moving closer to or farther from the sun.

What Causes the Seasons? | NASA Space Place – NASA Science for Kids when is earth closest to the sun

• Kepler, J. (1609). Astronomia Nova.
• Newton, I. (1687). Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica.
• United States Naval Observatory. (2022). Earth's Perihelion and Aphelion.

1. Land vs. Water: The Northern Hemisphere has more land, which heats and cools quickly. The Southern Hemisphere has more ocean, which absorbs heat slowly. But the bigger factor is...
2. The Seasons: During perihelion (January), the Northern Hemisphere (with most of Earth’s land) is tilted away from the sun. So the extra 6% energy is hitting the hemisphere that is in winter, mostly over oceans. That extra energy softens Northern winters slightly, but it cannot overcome the lack of direct sunlight.

Perihelion Dates (2020-2030)

Perihelion has some effects on our planet: Kepler, J