The orbit of the Earth around the Sun is a complex process that takes 365 days, 6 hours, 9 minutes, and 9.54 seconds. However, it may surprise you to learn that our planet does not move along a perfectly circular orbit. This causes Earth to be at its maximum distance from the Sun at different times of the year, and then later it gets closer. These phenomena are known as aphelion and perihelion.
Aphelion is the moment when the Earth is farthest from the Sun. This occurs around July 4th. During this time, our planet is at the farthest point of its orbit from our star. This phenomenon is responsible for the warm summer in the northern hemisphere, as the sunlight reaches it at a less steep angle.
On the other hand, perihelion is the moment when the Earth is closest to the Sun. This happens around January 3rd. During this time, our planet approaches the Sun at its maximum distance. It is perihelion that is responsible for winter in the northern hemisphere, as the sunlight reaches it at a sharper angle.
Research on the Earth’s orbit is very important for scientists and astronomers. It has a significant impact on our understanding of seasons, weather, and climate. Thanks to these studies, various astronomical phenomena, such as eclipses and planetary transits, can also be predicted.
Did you know…
The eccentricity of the Earth’s orbit is 0.01671. This means that our orbit is almost circular but still has some deviations.
FAQ:
Q: When is the Earth closest to the Sun?
A: The Earth is closest to the Sun during perihelion, which occurs around January 3rd.
Q: Why is it warmer in the summer?
A: It is warmer in the summer because the Earth is in aphelion, farthest from the Sun, and the sunlight reaches it at a less steep angle.
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The source of the article is from the blog papodemusica.com