When Is Earth Closest To The Sun Today

In , Earth will reach perihelion on January 3 at 12:15 p.m. EST (17:15 UTC). At this precise moment, our planet will be approximately 91,403,637 miles (147,099,894 km) from the Sun's center. Understanding Perihelion and Aphelion

| Year | Date of Perihelion | | --- | --- | | 2020 | January 4 | | 2021 | January 3 | | 2022 | January 3 | | 2023 | January 4 | | 2024 | January 3 | | 2025 | January 3 | | 2026 | January 4 | | 2027 | January 3 | | 2028 | January 3 | | 2029 | January 4 | | 2030 | January 3 | when is earth closest to the sun

| Myth | Reality | |------|---------| | “Earth is closest in summer.” | No – it’s closest in January (winter in the north). | | “Distance causes seasons.” | False – tilt is the primary cause. | | “Perihelion happens on the same date every year.” | It varies by ~1–2 days due to leap years and planetary gravity. | | “The Sun feels hotter at perihelion.” | Only if you’re in the southern hemisphere summer; otherwise, tilt dominates. | In , Earth will reach perihelion on January 3 at 12:15 p