Leo looked up at the cold, clear December sky. “So even when we’re closest to the sun, it’s winter here because of the tilt.”
“Earth is tilted,” she explained. “In December and January, the Northern Hemisphere — where we live — is tilted away from the sun. So even though we’re a bit closer to the sun overall, the sunlight hits us at a low angle, spreading out and giving us less heat. That’s winter.” what season is earth closest to the sun
“That’s pretty cool,” Leo said, pulling his jacket tighter. “And a little weird.” Leo looked up at the cold, clear December sky
“Exactly,” Mom said. “The tilt is the real star of the show. In fact, Earth’s orbit is almost a circle. The difference in distance is only about 3 million miles — tiny compared to 93 million miles total. That small change can’t beat the tilt’s effect.” So even though we’re a bit closer to
“The universe is full of weird and wonderful surprises,” Mom said, smiling. Earth is closest to the sun in early January (perihelion), but seasons are caused by Earth’s axial tilt, not its distance from the sun. So even at our closest point, the Northern Hemisphere experiences winter because it’s tilted away from the sun’s direct rays.
Here’s a helpful story that clears up a common misconception about Earth’s orbit and the seasons. Leo loved watching the night sky. One chilly December evening, he asked his mom, “Why is it so cold if Earth is closest to the sun right now?”
She continued, “In July, we’re actually farthest from the sun — but the Northern Hemisphere tilts toward the sun. The sunlight hits us directly, making it hot summer.”