Science

Why July 3rd Marks Earth’s Farthest Point from the Sun: Here’s What You Need to Know!

2025-07-03

Author: Nur

Earth’s Cosmic Journey

On July 3, the Earth will reach its farthest point from the Sun, known as the aphelion, at an astonishing distance of 152,087,738 kilometers (94,502,939 miles). Interestingly, because of its elliptical orbit, Earth gets about 5.1 million kilometers (approximately 3.2 million miles) closer to the Sun at its nearest point, resulting in a 6.8% increase in solar radiation during January compared to tomorrow.

Summer in the Northern Hemisphere? Here’s Why!

You might wonder, if Earth is farther away from the Sun, how is it still experiencing summer? The answer lies in the tilt of the Earth, not the distance. The Northern Hemisphere is currently tilted towards the Sun, giving us warm summer days, while the Southern Hemisphere experiences winter. Flip this six months from now, and the Southern Hemisphere will bask in summer while the North faces the chill.

The Snakes and Ladders of Our Orbit

You might find it surprising that the dates of aphelion and perihelion (the closest point to the Sun) fluctuate over time. Their cyclical nature shifts about one day every 58 years, influenced by gravitational interactions with larger planets like Jupiter and Saturn. This means that, historically, significant dates like New Year’s Day (in the late 1800s) once coincided with perihelion.

A Shape-Shifting Orbit

The shape of Earth’s orbit is not static: it morphs from slightly elliptical to almost circular over hundreds of thousands of years, known as the Milankovitch cycles. Currently, our orbit is nearing its circular form, gently adjusting the lengths of our seasons.

Seasons Defined by Space

This circularity affects how long each season lasts. For instance, summer in the Northern Hemisphere is now about 4.66 days longer than winter, while spring exceeds autumn by 2.9 days. The longer the orbit remains circular, the more uniform the durations of our seasons, reshaping our experience of time on Earth!