January. More specifically, the Sun is closest to Earth in early January , usually around January 3rd or 4th .

About 3 million miles (5 million km) — roughly 3.3% closer in January. Why Isn't January Hotter? Even though Earth is closer to the Sun in January, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, so sunlight hits at a lower angle and spreads out over a larger area. This reduces heating efficiency. Meanwhile, the Southern Hemisphere (tilted toward the Sun) experiences summer during perihelion, so its summers are slightly more extreme than Northern summers. Why Does the Date Change Slightly? Perihelion does not fall on the exact same day each year because Earth's orbit is affected by the gravitational pull of other planets (especially Jupiter and Saturn). The date drifts by about 1 day every 58 years . Over long timescales, perihelion slowly moves through the calendar. Key Takeaway The Sun is closest to Earth in January — not June or July. Seasons depend on tilt, not distance.