Is the Earth closest to the Sun in January?

Answer 1

In August Earth is not closest to the sun. Actually the Earth is closest to the sun in December/January. The actual date varies from year to year. In 2012, Earth is at perihelion - its closest point to the sun - on Thursday, January 5 at 1 hour Universal Time
The Sun and Earth are closest to each other during the month of January. The Earth is furthest from the Sun during the month of July.

Answer 2

The difference between the Earth closest to the Sun and the Earth farthest away from the Sun is quite small, and the differences in the angle of exposure to the Sun between winter and summer is quite large. So even though the Sun is closest in January, the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun at that time.

Answer 3

It's because of Earth's 23.5 degree tilt of it's axis. As Earth orbits around the Sun, the Southern Hemisphere receives more direct sunlight in December, thus making the temperature warmer. But in the northern hemisphere, the northern continents are tilted away from direct sunlight, thus making it colder in December.

Answer 4

This is so because the angle of insolation ... the angle at which solar radiation

arrives at the Earth's surface ... has a much greater influence on the surface

climate than the distance between the Earth and sun has.

If that answer isn't satisfying, then you may find more inner peace if you assume

that Nature simply favors the southern Hemisphere, where it's Summer in January.

Answer 5

No, Earth is actually closest to the Sun in early January during its winter in the Northern Hemisphere. This closest point is called the perihelion.

Answer 6

Not much. Seasons are not caused by the Earth's distance from the Sun, but rather by Earth's tilt.

Answer 7

Yes. Perihelion, the point when the Earth is closest to the Sun, occurs on January 4 each year, although this can vary a day either way with the cycle of leap years.

Answer 8

No. Periapsis - the closest approach between Earth and Sun in this case - is in January.

Answer 9

Yes. Currently, the earth is reaching perihelion sometime

during the first week or so of January each year.

Answer 10

All planets go around the Sun in elipses. This means that at some point of their orbit they are nearer to the Sun, at another point, farther.