Earth Closest to Sun This Week

Our planet is now at its shortest distance from the sun for the entire year. This annual event, called perihelion, occurred in early January, according to the Syrian Astronomical Association. At perihelion, Earth is approximately 147.1 million kilometers from the sun. The planet's orbit is not a perfect circle. It will be farthest from the sun in July, a point called aphelion. That distance is about five million kilometers greater. A representative from the association confirmed this is a normal orbital cycle. The change in distance is not linked to Earth's seasons, which are caused by the planet's axial tilt.