Did you know that the Earth is about 3 million miles closer to the sun in winter than in summer?
This year (2026), Earth is closest to the Sun on Saturday, 3rd January. This specific point in the Earth's orbit is called perihelion.
The point in Earth's orbit at which the Sun is farthest from Earth is called aphelion.
So why is January so cold?
In January, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, which means sunlight hits the ground at a shallower angle than when the Earth is tilted towards the Sun. The shallow angle means that the sun's heat is spread out as it travels through the atmosphere, making the weather colder.
The Southern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun in January, which is why it experiences summer during perihelion in the Northern Hemisphere.
Fun Fact: The Earth moves faster when it's closest to the Sun (because of gravity), so winter in the Northern Hemisphere is about 5 days shorter than summer!
Read about Kepler's Second Law to learn more about this!
Last Updated on January 2, 2026 by Emma Vanstone
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