On 3 January 2024, Earth reached its closest point to the sun, a phenomenon known as perihelion. Despite being over 91 million miles away, this annual event marks the moment when our planet is nearest to its star—yet surprisingly, it doesn’t make the UK any warmer.
Experts from the Royal Observatory Greenwich explain that perihelion occurs due to Earth’s elliptical orbit. While the sun appears slightly larger in the sky, the effect on temperatures is minimal compared to seasonal changes caused by the planet’s axial tilt.
Why Isn’t the UK Warmer During Perihelion?
Contrary to intuition, Earth’s proximity to the sun in January doesn’t lead to hotter weather in the Northern Hemisphere. Instead, the tilt of Earth’s axis dictates seasons. During the UK winter, the Northern Hemisphere leans away from the sun, resulting in shorter days and cooler temperatures—despite being closer to the solar giant.
Daylight Changes in the UK
Around perihelion, the UK experiences marginally longer daylight hours compared to the December solstice. For example, London saw just 7 hours and 50 minutes of daylight on the shortest day of 2023, but this gradually increases as the planet continues its orbit.
Interestingly, perihelion also means the sun moves slightly faster across the sky, making solar noon a few seconds earlier each day. This subtle shift is tracked by astronomers and timekeepers worldwide.
When Is Earth Farthest from the Sun?
Later this year, on 5 July, Earth will reach aphelion—its farthest point from the sun. At that time, the distance will stretch to about 94.5 million miles, but again, this won’t drastically alter seasonal weather patterns.
For stargazers and science enthusiasts, perihelion serves as a reminder of Earth’s dynamic place in the solar system—where distance from the sun is just one factor in the complex dance of seasons and daylight.
