Winter often feels like a long stretch of weak light and cold air. The idea that Earth is actually closest to the Sun during this time can sound wrong, almost misleading. January mornings do not feel warmer because of a smaller gap in space. Yet every year, quietly and without drama, Earth reaches that closer point. Astronomers mark it on calendars. Most people never notice. The cold continues. This mismatch between distance and temperature has confused people for generations. It feels logical that closeness should mean warmth. But seasons do not follow simple logic. They follow angles, shadows, and timing. To make sense of it, you have to stop thinking about how far away the Sun is and start paying attention to how its light reaches the ground.
When is Earth closest to the sun, and why do we still experience winter
Each year in early January, Earth reaches perihelion, the point where its orbit brings it nearest to the Sun. In early 2026, this will happen around the third of January. At that moment, Earth is about 2.5 million kilometres closer than it was in July, when it reached aphelion. In space terms, that sounds like a lot. In practical terms, it changes very little. The Sun does not suddenly shine brighter. The extra closeness amounts to a small fraction of the total distance, not enough to reshape daily weather.
Does distance from the Sun affect temperature
Distance does matter, but far less than people expect. Earth’s orbit is slightly oval rather than perfectly circular. The difference between its closest and farthest points is only about three percent. That small change does increase the amount of solar energy Earth receives, but the effect is subtle. It is easily outweighed by other factors. If distance alone controlled seasons, both hemispheres would warm and cool at the same time. They do not.
What actually causes the seasons
According to NASA, the main driver of seasons is Earth’s tilt. The planet is tilted by about 23.4 degrees as it travels around the Sun. This tilt changes how sunlight hits different parts of the globe over the year. When the Northern Hemisphere tilts towards the sun, sunlight arrives more directly and days are longer. That is summer. When it tilts away, sunlight spreads out over a wider area and days shorten. That is winter. The same process works in reverse in the Southern Hemisphere.
Why is winter cold even at perihelion
In January, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun. Even though Earth is slightly closer overall, the Sun sits lower in the sky. Its light strikes the ground at a shallow angle. Energy spreads thinly and warms less effectively. Days are short, nights are long, and the ground loses more heat than it gains. At the same time, the Southern Hemisphere enjoys summer, with longer days and more direct sunlight. The timing feels awkward, but it is simply how the tilt and orbit line up right now.
Is this timing just a coincidence
Yes, largely. The fact that perihelion happens during Northern Hemisphere winter is not fixed forever. Over long periods, the dates of perihelion and aphelion slowly shift. Gravitational pulls from other planets, especially Jupiter and Saturn, cause Earth’s orbit to rotate gradually. This means perihelion creeps forward through the calendar. Thousands of years from now, it will fall closer to a different season.
Will seasons change because of this shift
The basic pattern of seasons will stay the same because Earth’s tilt remains the dominant factor. However, the length of seasons does change slightly. Right now, Northern Hemisphere summer lasts a few days longer than winter because Earth moves a bit faster when it is closer to the Sun. In the distant future, this balance will shift. These changes happen slowly enough that no one notices them in daily life.
Why does this still feel counterintuitive
Human intuition is shaped by everyday distances. A step closer to a fire feels warmer. Space does not work that way. The Sun is so far away that small changes in distance barely register. Angle and exposure matter far more. Once that idea settles, the winter sun makes more sense. It is not weaker because it is farther away. It is weaker because it arrives at the wrong angle, at the wrong time of year.And so January stays cold, even as Earth slips quietly past its closest point, unnoticed by most people going about their winter days.
