when is perihelion in 2025

Art Scpae

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12-11-2024

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When is Perihelion in 2025? Understanding Earth's Closest Approach to the Sun

Have you ever wondered when Earth is closest to the sun? This point in our planet's orbit is known as perihelion, and it occurs each year around early January.

What is Perihelion?

Perihelion is the point in Earth's elliptical orbit where it is closest to the sun. In contrast, aphelion is the point where Earth is farthest from the sun.

Why does Earth's orbit vary?

Earth's orbit is not a perfect circle, but slightly elliptical. This means that our planet's distance from the sun changes throughout the year.

Perihelion in 2025: Date and Time

In 2025, Earth will reach perihelion on January 2, 2025, at 17:17 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time).

Important Note: This time is based on the average date and time of perihelion in recent years. The exact date and time may vary slightly due to factors like gravitational influences from other planets.

Distance at Perihelion

At perihelion, Earth is approximately 91.4 million miles (147.1 million kilometers) from the sun. This is about 3.1 million miles (5 million kilometers) closer than its farthest point from the sun at aphelion.

Perihelion and Seasons

It's a common misconception that Earth is closest to the sun during the summer and farthest during the winter. However, the Earth's seasons are primarily determined by the tilt of our planet's axis, not its distance from the sun.

The tilt of the Earth's axis causes different hemispheres to receive more direct sunlight at different times of the year, leading to the change of seasons.

Perihelion in Other Years

Here's a table showing the approximate date of perihelion for the next few years:

While the date may shift slightly, perihelion typically occurs in early January each year.

Conclusion

Perihelion is a fascinating aspect of Earth's orbit. While it might not directly impact our seasons, it's a reminder of the dynamic nature of our solar system and the ever-changing relationship between Earth and the sun.