The point where Earth is closest to the Sun . This occurs in early January , bringing the planet to roughly 91.4 million miles (147 million km) away from the star.
| Factor | Effect on Distance | Magnitude | Net Direction | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Increases distance | ~1.5 cm/year | Away | | Tidal Friction (Earth on Sun) | Increases distance | Very small | Away | | Gravitational Waves | Decreases distance | Negligible (~1 atom width/year) | Toward | | Drag from Interstellar Medium | Decreases distance | Negligible | Toward | is the earth moving closer to the sun
While our daily and seasonal experiences might make it feel like the Sun’s influence is changing, orbital mechanics and stellar physics dictate a slow outward migration. Understanding why this happens requires looking at the short-term geometry of our orbit, the long-term physics of our host star, and the ultimate fate of our planet billions of years from now. The Short-Term Reality: The Annual Elliptical Cycle The point where Earth is closest to the Sun
These seasonal distance changes are 300 million times larger than the annual 1.5 cm drift. This is why we don’t “feel” the slow outward movement. Understanding why this happens requires looking at the
This creates a paradox for those in the Northern Hemisphere. We are closest to the Sun in January, during the dead of winter. This proves that our distance from the Sun is not the cause of the seasons. The seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth’s axis, not our proximity to the star.
Just as the Moon exerts a gravitational pull on Earth to create ocean tides, the Earth exerts a minor gravitational pull on the Sun. This creates a tiny "tidal bulge" on the Sun's surface.