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PRINTWhen is the Earth Closest to the Sun?
It would seem that the Earth is closest to the sun in summer. But, the opposite is true. In January, the earth is nearest the sun, while in July it’s farthest away.
Why, then, is it warmer in July? The heat of the summer is not due to the proximity of the sun, but rather that the sun is more overhead in the northern hemisphere during the summer season. Its rays fall on the earth more vertically and are more concentrated than they are in winter, when the sun is not vertically above us.
During the winter, the rays of the sun strike the ground at an angle that spreads them out more.
From the Farmers’ Almanac, 2005
Current Moon Phase
Tide Calendars
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
Helpful Astronomy Links
Recent Blog Posts
If you notice a hole in the upper left-hand corner of your Farmers' Almanac, don't return it to the store! That hole isn't a defect; it's a part of history. Starting with the first edition of the Farmers' Almanac in 1818, readers used to nail holes into the corners to hang it up in their homes, barns, and outhouses (to provide both reading material and toilet paper). In 1910, the Almanac's publishers began pre-drilling holes in the corners to make it even easier for readers to keep all of that invaluable information (and paper) handy.