Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Turns Out We're Closer To The Sun In January Than We Are In The Dead Of Summer—Because Science

Right now, the northern hemisphere is in the dead of winter, which means it's cold. The winter solstice has just ended, which means it gets dark very early and stays that way far into the morning. And yet, at 2:19 a.m. ET on January 2, Earth slid by the perihelion—the point at which our planet is as close as it gets to the sun.


Earth passes the perihelion every January and the aphelion (the point at which we're farthest away from the sun) every July.



Nottingham Trent University astronomer Daniel Brown joked on Twitter about the perihelion, calling the day's sun a "super sun" (referencing how we call the moon a "super moon" when its at its perihelion).




For those who don't remember from science class, the earth's distance from the sun is constantly changing due to the fact that its orbit isn't circular—it's elliptical, with the sun at one of the ellipse's focal points.



Similarly, though it seems counter-intuitive for the planet to be extra close to the sun just as things are extra cold, Earth's seasons are caused by the tilt of its axis rather than its proximity to heat. During the winter, the northern hemisphere is tipped away from the sun's light, causing winter, while the southern hemisphere is tipped towards, receiving more direct sunlight, which causes summer.




On Twitter, science-fans everywhere were wishing each other a Merry Perihelion!







Meanwhile, Bob Henson, a meteorologist writing for Weather Underground, wrote for Weather Underground that our orbit around the sun isn't completely stable, and our dates of perihelion and aphelion are drifting forward ever so slightly:

"In addition, these date ranges of perihelion and aphelion are also sliding forward on the calendar ever so gradually—less than two days per century—as Earth's tilt itself undergoes a slow-motion wobble. In 13,000 years, perihelion will be arriving in July and aphelion in January."

The sun itself also experiences cycles of activity and non-activity. It's now entering a phase known as the solar minimum, where sun spots fade and the star remains relatively "quiet." This inactivity should come to a "peak" around 2020 before heading back towards a solar maximum in 2024.


Happy Perihelion, everybody! May we grow even closer to the sun next year?



More from News

Screenshots from @trace_myjournee's TikTok video
@trace_myjournee/TikTok

Woman Calls 911 After Hearing Odd Alarm Going Off In Her Home—Only For Cops To Make Embarrassing Discovery

We've all had our embarrassing moments, but most of us can say that our embarrassing moment didn't lead to calling the fire department.

While having a relaxing Saturday night at home with wine and a personal karaoke system, TikToker @trace_myjournee was concerned when a loud and shrill alarm started to come from inside her apartment.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @alexojennings' TikTok video
@alexojennings/TikTok

Bride Mocked For Posting 'Cringe' Dance Performance For Her Husband in Front Of Her Religious Parents

The bride and groom generally put a lot of effort into planning a wedding that they will love and that will represent who they are as a couple.

But there's a time and a place for anything—especially dancing for a skeptical audience.

Keep ReadingShow less
Outraged Mom Calls Out American Airlines After Her Special Needs Daughter Is Forced To Crawl Off Plane
@susangroveTikTok

Outraged Mom Calls Out American Airlines After Her Special Needs Daughter Is Forced To Crawl Off Plane

Part of raising a child is sometimes having to stand by while they do something difficult in order to grow.

That was not the case recently where mom Susan Grove found herself forced to stand by while her special needs daughter crawled off of an American Airlines flight because there was no wheelchair.

Keep ReadingShow less
Reneé  Rapp
Taylor Hill/Getty Images

Singer Reneé Rapp Gives Young LGBTQ+ Fans Some Hilarious Advice On How To Handle Homophobic Parents

Actor and singer Reneé Rapp had a very public coming out as a lesbian in a sketch on Saturday Night Live back in January 2024 after previously identifying as bisexual.

Since then, the star of The Sex Lives of College Girls and the Mean Girls Broadway and movie musicals—inspired by the 2004 Lindsay Lohan film—has spoken about struggling with accepting and then eventually embracing her sexuality.

Keep ReadingShow less
Barbie dolls on display
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Conservatives Predictably Outraged After Mattel Introduces New Barbie With Type 1 Diabetes

Conservatives lashed out at toymaker Mattel after the company introduced a new Barbie doll with Type 1 diabetes, including an insulin pump and blood sugar tracker—an action they say is "woke" while not understanding the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Mattel revealed a new partnership with Breakthrough T1D— formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation—to launch a Barbie doll that authentically represents people living with Type 1 diabetes. The collaboration, Mattel said, ensures the doll “truly captures the community,” including accessories that “accurately reflect the medical equipment” commonly used by individuals with the condition.

Keep ReadingShow less