Science Reviewer
Science Reviewer
● Perihelion - comes from the Gk. words, “helios” meaning “Sun” and “peri” meaning
“close”
○ Perihelion is the point of the Earth’s orbit that is nearest to the Sun.
○ At perihelion, Earth will be 91,399,454 miles away from the Sun.
○ At perihelion, the Southern hemisphere is in Summer and receives more sunlight
due to being slightly closer to the Sun.
○ Perihelion always happens in early January, about two weeks after the December
Solstice where Earth is closest to the Sun.
○ The average temperature of Earth at aphelion is about 4o F (2.3o C) higher than
it is at perihelion.
● Earth’s distance from the sun does not affect the seasons.