The Seasons, the Equinox, and the Solstices - National Weather Service

If you're interested in learning more about the Earth's orbit and its effects on our climate, you can visit the following websites:

The Earth is closest to the sun during . This point in Earth's orbit is called perihelion , and it typically occurs in early January (around January 3–4).

So, if you are searching for the "closest to the sun link," remember the link to January. It is a fixed astronomical event that happens shortly after the New Year.

So, the next time you are shivering on a January morning, take a moment to appreciate the cosmic irony. You are standing 3 million miles closer to a raging ball of nuclear fusion than you will be in July. But because your hemisphere is tilted away, you will still need a jacket.

The gravitational pull from giants like Jupiter and Saturn can subtly alter Earth’s orbital path over long periods. How Perihelion Affects the Earth

"Believe it or not," Elias said, stepping back from the eyepiece and gesturing for her to look, "at this very moment, the Earth is closer to the Sun than it will be at any other point this year."