Johannes Kepler’s First Law of Planetary Motion states that planets move in elliptical orbits with the Sun at one focus. Because of this ellipse, the distance between the Earth and the Sun fluctuates throughout the year.
In 2026, perihelion occurred on January 3 at approximately 17:16 UTC (11:00 a.m. CST). at what point is earth closest to the sun
shortest season of the year, lasting nearly five days less than the summer. EarthSky +2 Upcoming Dates for Perihelion The exact timing of perihelion shifts slightly each year because our calendar doesn't perfectly match our orbit. Use the Time and Date Perihelion Calculator to check the precise moment for future years. Space +1 Year Date Time (UTC) 2026 January 3 17:15 2027 January 3 02:33 2028 January 5 12:28 2029 January 2 18:13 Would you like to explore how Johannes Kepler’s First Law of Planetary Motion states