When 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

Tags: earth, sun, distance, light years