Earth will be closest to the Sun on January 3, 2026

On January 3, 2026, the Earth will be at its closest distance to the Sun during the year. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

This event is called "perihelion" in astronomy. According to information provided by the Moscow Planetarium, on this day the Sun will be at its nearest distance to the Earth, and therefore it will appear largest during the year.

Experts emphasize that on January 3, the distance between the Earth and the Sun will be approximately 147 million 99 thousand kilometers. Due to this distance, the apparent diameter of the Sun will reach its maximum value for the year — 32 arc minutes and 35 seconds.

Although this change is almost imperceptible to the naked eye, it is clearly visible through professional astronomical telescopes or in special photographs. Additionally, astronomers noted that the opposite situation will occur in July 2026.

In July, the Earth will be at its farthest distance from the Sun — the aphelion. Therefore, in July, the apparent size of the Sun will be significantly smaller than in January.