science
Earth Reaches Farthest Point From Sun on July 6
Earth will be at aphelion on July 6, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. EDT, 94.5 million miles from the sun. Northern Hemisphere summer heat is driven by axial tilt, longer days, and direct sunlight rather than orbital distance.
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Earth reaches its farthest point from the sun in 2026 at 1:30 p.m. EDT on July 6. At that moment the planet will be 94.5 million miles from the sun's center, a distance reported by Timeanddate. Earth's orbit is slightly elongated rather than a perfect circle. The difference between the closest and farthest points is about 3.1 million miles, or 3.4 percent of the average distance.
Earth spins on an axis tilted 23.5 degrees. In July the Northern Hemisphere leans toward the sun, producing longer days and more direct sunlight that heats the ground and air. The Southern Hemisphere tilts away from the sun during the same period, so countries such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Argentina experience winter.
Earth receives slightly less solar energy at aphelion than at perihelion. That reduction is smaller than the seasonal effect of axial tilt, day length, and sun angle.
Clear evening skies are expected from July 7 through July 16 after the last-quarter moon rises near midnight. Several celestial events are scheduled during the month, including a total solar eclipse visible from parts of Greenland, Iceland, and Spain on August 12.
