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The sun appears about 3% larger in the sky in January than in July. Furthermore, the Earth receives about 7% more solar energy (radiation) during perihelion.

"Uncle Elias!" she exclaimed, stamping snow off her boots. "Why on earth are you up here? It’s freezing! The car wouldn't even start this morning."

If you are curious, I can also look up the (farthest distance) for 2026 or explain how Earth's elliptical orbit impacts seasons in more detail. Happy Perihelion 2026 — Earth's Closest Solar Encounter!

This astronomical event is known as . Here is a deep dive into why this happens, why it doesn’t make the weather hot, and how our orbit affects life on Earth. What is Perihelion?

Six months later, in early July, Earth reaches aphelion, drifting to a distance of about 94.5 million miles (152 million kilometers).

The word "perihelion" comes from Greek roots: peri , meaning "near," and helios , meaning "Sun." It is the precise point in Earth’s slightly oval-shaped (elliptical) orbit where it is nearest to the Sun.

Elias smiled, his breath puffing out in white clouds. "I’m observing our star, Maya. And ironically, that is exactly why it is so cold."

The answer is . Earth is tilted at an angle of roughly

Earth is closest to the Sun during the month of . While it seems counterintuitive to our winter weather, this phenomenon is a fascinating aspect of our elliptical orbit and axial tilt.

"Three million miles sounds like a lot," Maya interjected.

The increased proximity to the Sun during perihelion has a relatively minor effect on the Earth's climate. In fact, the difference in solar energy received by the Earth at perihelion versus aphelion (the farthest point from the Sun) is only about 6.9%. This variation is not enough to cause significant changes in the Earth's climate.