The Earth orbits the Sun in an ellipse, and that means there is a time of year when it comes very close to the Sun and then comes its furthest distance from it. However, being far doesn’t mean it changes things dramatically. The difference is minimal, but nevertheless, a lot there. Well, this is Aphelion’s moment. On July 6, Earth will be furthest from the Sun. You would think this would make the Earth cooler, but it’s not. Despite this fact, the Northern Hemisphere often faces high temperatures during this time. NASA reveals northern summers on Earth are 2 to 3 days longer than southern summers – which gives the Sun more time to bake the northern continents.
Perihelium and perihelion:
So what do these terms really mean? “Aphelion” refers to the Earth at its furthest distance from the sun. On the other hand, “perihelion” refers to the fact when it is closest, according to to the Yearbook. However, Earth’s slightly elliptical orbit results in distinct perihelion and aphelion each year. Perihelion occurs on January 4, 2023, when Earth is 0.98 AU from the sun. However, on July 6, aphelion occurred, with Earth at 1.01 AU from the sun, LiveScience revealed.
“Sunlight reaching Earth at perihelion is about 7% less intense than at perihelion,” said Roy Spencer of NASA’s Global Climate and Hydrology Center (GHCC).
Season change
The main factor behind the change of seasons is the Earth’s axial tilt of 23.5 degrees. During July, the Northern Hemisphere leans towards the sun, resulting in the direct and harsh sunlight typical of summer. In contrast, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, experiencing shorter days and colder temperatures, because report by LiveScience.
Independent from the solstice:
The perihelion occurs immediately after the June summer solstice, and the perihelion aligns with the December summer solstice. However, these events are not directly linked. Because of this volatility, the dates of these events have changed by about one day every 58 years since the 13th century, as report according to timeanddate.com.
