Point Sun Month - Earth Closest

Note: Slight annual variation due to gravitational perturbations from Jupiter and other planets.

The seasons are caused by Earth’s axial tilt (≈23.5°), not by distance. When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun (winter), Earth happens to be at its closest orbital point to the Sun. This is a coincidence of timing. earth closest point sun month

Contrary to common misconception, Earth is not closest to the Sun during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer (June). Instead, Earth reaches its closest point to the Sun—known as perihelion —every year in early January , typically between January 2nd and January 5th. This is a coincidence of timing

| Year | Perihelion Date & Time (UTC) | Distance (million km) | |------|------------------------------|------------------------| | 2024 | Jan 3, 00:38 | 147.1 | | 2025 | Jan 4, 13:28 | 147.1 | | 2026 | Jan 3, 17:15 | 147.1 | | 2027 | Jan 3, 23:00 | 147.1 | | 2028 | Jan 5, 12:00 | 147.1 | | Year | Perihelion Date & Time (UTC)

Perihelion: Analysis of Earth’s Closest Point to the Sun