smallest distance
Earth will be closest to the sun on Wednesday
The earth comes closer to the sun this Wednesday in the early evening than at any other time in the year. The distance between the earth and the sun is then still 147.1 million kilometers.
In winter, of all times, the earth is closest to the sun in its orbit. However, the proximity to the sun has little to do with heat and cold on earth. (archive image)
When the earth is furthest from the sun again in July, the distance is 152.1 million kilometers, as SRF Meteo wrote.
The fact that the distance between the sun and the earth changes is due to the slightly elliptical orbit on which the earth orbits the sun in one year. Earth will be closest to the sun on Wednesday at 5:17 p.m., the statement said.
The proximity to the sun has little to do with the seasons. The inclination of the earth’s axis is decisive for heat and cold on earth. It ensures that the sun is only around 19 degrees above the horizon in winter, while the angle of incidence is around 66 degrees in summer. The days are also longer in midsummer.
The air currents also have a decisive influence on the temperature, wrote SRF Meteo. Air from the Mediterranean or from the subtropical Atlantic is warmer than air from northern directions. (SDA)