Earth at Apehelion

Today the Earth is furthest from the Sun, a point called apehelion. We will be about 152,098,232km (94,509,459miles) from the Sun. Compare this to the 147,098,290km (91,402,639miles) we were at perihelion on Jan 4th, a difference of about 5,411,169km (3,362,344miles) occurs throughout one orbit.

It may seem odd that we are actually at the furthest for the middle of northern summer, you just have to remember that proximity to the Sun is not the cause of the seasons. The seasons are caused by the axial tilt of the Earth, creating short and long days throughout the year, with a resulting change in the angle and intensity of the sunlight.

2012 Solstices and Equinoxes
Perihelion Jan 5 03:59UT Jan 4 18:59AST
Spring Equinox Mar 20 05:14UT Mar 19 21:14AST
Summer Solstice Jun 20 23:09UT Jun 20 15:09ADT
Apehelion Jul 4 10:59UT Jul 4 15:59ADT
Fall Equinox Sep 22 14:49UT Sep 22 06:49ADT
Winter Solstice Dec 21 11:12UT Dec 21 02:12AST

Source: USNO Data Services Website and the NASA Sky Calendar

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About Andrew Cooper

An electrical engineer living and working on Mauna Kea, Hawai'i. Webmaster for the NordicQuest.com website. Sometimes the first mate/deckhand/launch driver/anchor detail/cook/dishwasher and mechanic aboard the Nordic Quest.
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