Does the earth go further away from the sun in the winter?

Question

Claire Anctil · Accepted Answer

No, the Earth is actually at its closest to the Sun during the Northern Hemisphere Winter.

Around January 3rd, the Earth is at perihelion, when it is 147,000,000 km closest to the Sun, and aphelion, when it is 152,000,000 km furthest from the Sun, which occurs in early July. Since the Earth's orbit is nearly round, distance has very little of an impact. The seasons are brought about by the Earth's axial tilt, or obliquity, which is 23.44 degrees. At the solstices in June and December, one hemisphere receives less than half of the incoming sunlight and is in winter, while the other hemisphere receives more than half and is in summer.

Levi Alexander · Answer

undefined No, during the winter months, the Earth does not get farther from the Sun.

Ivy Allen · Answer

undefined No, the Earth does not go further away from the Sun during winter. The distance between the Earth and the Sun varies slightly throughout the year due to the elliptical shape of Earth's orbit around the Sun. However, the Earth is actually closest to the Sun during its winter in the northern hemisphere, a phenomenon known as perihelion. This occurs around early January. Therefore, the distance between the Earth and the Sun is actually closest during winter, not further away.