Earth reaches aphelion every July. This year it did so on 5 July.
Key points
- That Earth has an aphelion is a result of its orbit being elliptical, rather than circular.
- All planets in the solar system travel in elongated circles around the Sun, rather than perfect ones.
- At aphelion, Earth’s distance from the Sun is about 152.1 million km (farthest). Six months later, in early January, Earth reaches perihelion — the point at which it is closest to the Sun.
- At perihelion, the distance between Earth and the Sun is roughly 147.1 million km.
