Star Tours : Science File / An exploration of issues and trends affecting science, medicine and the environment

The earth reaches its closest point to the sun at 11 p.m. on Jan. 3. At that moment, the sun is 91,509,800 miles away, 3,113,600 miles closer than when it is at its farthest point this coming July 5. Weather is cold in January because our Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun and the days are short, not because we are farther from the sun.

Source: John Mosley, Griffith Observatory