This fact creates a confusing paradox for those living in the Northern Hemisphere. How can the Sun be closest to us in January, historically one of the coldest months of the year?
This creates a slight temperature balancing act. Northern Hemisphere winters are technically slightly warmer than they would be if the orbit were a perfect circle, and Northern Hemisphere summers are slightly milder. In the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are more extreme—hotter summers and colder winters—specifically because they occur when Earth is closer to the Sun.
This is the point where Earth is furthest from the Sun, occurring in early July . At this stage, we are roughly 94.5 million miles (152 million kilometers) away.
This fact creates a confusing paradox for those living in the Northern Hemisphere. How can the Sun be closest to us in January, historically one of the coldest months of the year?
This creates a slight temperature balancing act. Northern Hemisphere winters are technically slightly warmer than they would be if the orbit were a perfect circle, and Northern Hemisphere summers are slightly milder. In the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are more extreme—hotter summers and colder winters—specifically because they occur when Earth is closer to the Sun.
This is the point where Earth is furthest from the Sun, occurring in early July . At this stage, we are roughly 94.5 million miles (152 million kilometers) away.