Every year in early January, Earth reaches the closest point in its orbit to the Sun, a moment astronomers call perihelion.

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Perihelion is the point at which an orbiting body is closest to the sun. The word comes from Greek and literally means around ...

This event, known as aphelion, happens once per year typically around two weeks after the summer solstice in June. Although the Earth’s distance from the Sun does not affect the seasons, aphelion does ...

Here's how the astronomical phenomenon influences our planet—from the length of our seasons to the way Earth moves through space.

Currently, the Moon is drifting away from Earth at a rate of about 1.6 inches per year making it slowly appear smaller in the ...

Earth is at its farthest point from the sun on July 3. So why are temperatures so high across the U.S.? When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it ...