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

Each year, Earth reaches its closest point to the sun in early January, a moment called perihelion. In 2026, this occurred on ...

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

Earth reaches its closest point to the sun in its 2026 orbit on Jan. 3. The sun will appear larger in the sky than on any ...

Research suggests that Mars may strongly influence these cycles. For example, Mars helps drive a 2.4‑million‑year cycle ...