On Thursday at 3:55 p.m. ET, Earth reached its aphelion — the farthest point in its elliptical orbit around the sun — at a distance of roughly 94.5 million miles.
Despite this increased separation, much of the Northern Hemisphere continues to experience intense summer heat, a phenomenon that underscores the dominant influence of Earth’s axial tilt over orbital distance in determining seasonal temperatures.
Earth’s orbit around the sun is not a perfect circle but a slightly elongated ellipse. At aphelion, the planet is about 3.1 million miles farther from the sun than it is at perihelion — its closest point — which occurs in early January.
This difference represents only about 3.3% of Earth’s average distance from the sun and results in approximately a 7% decrease in solar energy reaching the planet. However, experts note that this change is minimal in comparison to the impact of Earth’s axial tilt.
The Earth is tilted at an angle of approximately 23.5 degrees relative to its orbital plane. During July, this tilt causes the Northern Hemisphere to face the sun more directly, resulting in longer daylight hours and a higher solar angle.
These factors combine to deliver more concentrated solar radiation to the surface, significantly raising temperatures.
The disparity in solar energy between seasons is evident in cities across varying latitudes. At around 30 degrees north — including locations such as Houston, New Orleans, and Phoenix — the amount of solar radiation received during the summer is more than double that of the winter months.
In cities near 40 degrees north, such as New York, Denver, and Columbus, solar energy levels can rise from about 145 watts per square meter in winter to 430 watts in summer — a nearly 300% increase.
While it may seem counterintuitive that Earth’s hottest period in the Northern Hemisphere coincides with its maximum distance from the sun, scientists explain that this is a result of the angle at which sunlight strikes the Earth rather than the proximity to the sun itself.
The Southern Hemisphere, conversely, experiences winter during this same period, as it is tilted away from the sun.
In summary, although Earth is currently at its farthest point from the sun, the tilt of its axis remains the primary driver of seasonal temperature variation.
The ongoing summer heat in the Northern Hemisphere is a clear reminder that Earth’s orientation toward the sun plays a far greater role in shaping climate than distance alone.
