So, for our friends in Sydney or Buenos Aires, the proximity to the sun makes perfect sense: the closest month (January) is indeed their hottest month. You might wonder if the difference in distance is significant. The difference between perihelion (January) and aphelion (July) is about 3 million miles (5 million kilometers).
If you are reading this, you are likely under a common misconception that many people hold. When asked, "During which month is the Earth closest to the sun?" most people instinctively guess June, July, or August. After all, those are the warm, summer months in the Northern Hemisphere. We assume that heat equals proximity. during which month is the earth closest to the sun link
That’s right. While residents of North America and Europe are shoveling snow and wearing heavy coats, our planet reaches its nearest point to the star that sustains us. This closest point is called (from the Greek peri meaning "near" and helios meaning "sun"). So, for our friends in Sydney or Buenos
Does this heat up the planet globally? Yes, slightly. But the effect is overwhelmed by the seasonal tilt in the Northern Hemisphere, where most of the planet’s landmass resides. In fact, because of perihelion, Southern Hemisphere summers are slightly more intense than Northern Hemisphere summers, and Southern Hemisphere winters are slightly milder. Because this is a long article, we can dig deeper into the "link" between months and proximity. You might be surprised to learn that this alignment hasn't always been the case—and it won't stay this way forever. If you are reading this, you are likely