Understanding this phenomenon requires a look into the geometry of our solar system, the nature of planetary orbits, and the true mechanics behind the changing seasons on Earth. The Mechanics of Perihelion
The word "perihelion" stems from the Greek words peri (near) and helios (sun). Because Earth moves in an elliptical—rather than perfectly circular—orbit, the distance between our planet and the Sun varies by about 3 million miles throughout the year. during which month is the earth closest to the sun link
While Earth's orbit is nearly circular today, it slowly changes over thousands of years. The eccentricity can vary from nearly 0% to about 6% in a roughly 100,000-year cycle . These cycles, combined with axial tilt and precession (a wobble in Earth's rotation axis), form the Milankovitch cycles , which are believed to be major drivers of Earth's long-term climate, including the advance and retreat of ice ages. Understanding this phenomenon requires a look into the
It is a common misconception that Earth is closest to the Sun during the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere. However, the opposite is true. Earth reaches its closest point to the Sun, known as , in early January. While Earth's orbit is nearly circular today, it