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

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. The sun shines above the Earth’s horizon. Perihelion, the point when Earth is closest to the Sun, occurs annually in early January ...

Scientists tracked active solar region NOAA 13664 for 94 days, showing how persistent magnetic complexity drives flares and space weather.

Earth’s orbit around the Sun isn’t a perfect circle—it’s slightly elliptical. Each year, around July 2 or 3, Earth reaches its farthest point from the Sun, known as aphelion. Around January 2 or 3, ...

As the year gets underway, something important happens quietly in space while life on Earth carries on as usual. Our planet reaches the point in its yearly path where it moves closest to the sun.

Earth reaches its closest point to the sun in its 2026 orbit on Jan. 3. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. The sun will appear ...

Which way is ‘down’ has a different answer depending on where you are on Earth, in the solar system, in our galaxy and beyond ...

Learn about the longest observation of an active solar region, a feat that could start a path to improved solar storm forecasts.