is planet earth closer to the sun during winter solstis or farther?

Answer 1

The earth's orbit is elliptical not a perfect circle.

The closest point of approach of the earth to the sun, each year (the perihelion) is on January 4th (this can vary by a day or two from year to year) about a fortnight after the winter solstice (of the northern hemisphere).

And the farthest from the sun that the earth gets each year (the aphelion) is six months later on July 4th, about a fortnight after the Summer solstice (of the northern hemisphere). This too can vary by a day or two from year to year.

It does not affect the seasons but there is about 5 million kilometres difference in the Sun-to-earth distance between the two extremes of perihelion and aphelion.

The actual distances involved are

Aphelion 152,097,701 km (1.0167 AU)
Perihelion 147,098,074 km (0.9833 AU)

About a 3% variation. Light takes about 18 seconds longer to reach the earth when it is at aphelion than when it is at perihelion. Light takes 3 seconds longer to get here in February than it does in January, 3 seconds longer to get here in March than it does in February etc. About a tenth of a second extra per day for every day after perihelion,

All planets and indeed all bodies in elliptical orbits have a near-point and a far-point in their orbits, This is not unique to the earth orbiting the Sun.

As regards the moon orbiting the earth the far point is called the apogee and the nearpoint is called the perigee.

Perigee 363,104 km (0.0024 AU)
Apogee 405,696 km (0.0027 AU)

More like a 10% variation in other words, This is why the moon sometimes look bigger than at other times. It isn't really bigger, just nearer to us.

The biggest variation between aphelion and perihelion is perhaps shown by the Trans Neptunian Object 90377 Sedna. This takes 12,050 years to go round the Sun once and its minimum and maximum distances are:

Perihelion 1.139 x 10^13 m (76.156 AU)
Aphelion 14.586 x 10^13 m (975.056 AU)

That takes it out as far as the Oort Cloud at aphelion and in to about twice Pluto's distance from the Sun at perihelion.

Answer 2

There are a few conflicting answers given so far, so let me set the record straight (with limited technical, specific, precise, measurements, so it's easy for anyone to understand).

First, a definition. "Solstis" is not a word in the English language. I assume you meant "solstice".

A solstice is either of the two events of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the equatorial plane. The name is derived from Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), because at the solstice, the Sun stands still in declination, that is, it reaches a maximum or a minimum. The term solstice can also be used in a wider sense as the date (day) that such a passage happens. The solstices, together with the equinoxes, are related to the seasons. In some languages they are considered to start or separate the seasons; in others they are considered to be center points (in English, in the Northern hemisphere, for example, the period around the June solstice is known as midsummer, and Midsummer's Day is the 24 June — now two or three days after the solstice).

So the word solstice means BOTH: the longest day of the year AND the 2 moments every year when the Earth is the greatest distance from the sun.
The equinox is the opposite 2 moments in the revolution of the Earth around the sun, and the shortest day of the year.

Now for some corrections:
Those who say the seasons are defined by the angle of Earth tilting toward or away from the sun as a result of it's rotation on it's axis are correct. The axis is not considered as a variable in this case. It is observed as being constant (so far).
However ..
Those who say the revolution of the Earth around the sun is not circular but rather ALMOST circular (technically called elliptical) are also correct.
Yet ...
Those who say that the distance of the Earth from the sun has very little to do with the seasons are still correct.
Although ...
Those who say the Earth's distance does play a small, yet still detectable role in influencing seasons are still correct.
Because ...
The difference in distance between the furthest and closest range from the Earth to the sun is relatively small (on a astrological scale), so while Earth's revolution is elliptical, to the naked eye a scale model of our solar system would represent our orbit around the sun as circular. This slight eliptical orbit can change the severity of the seasons.

Answer 3

It depends on which winter solstice you are referring to (which hemisphere you are in). The winter solstice in the northern hemisphere was December 22 this year. In the southern hemisphere the winter solstice will be June 21. It is better to refer to the June or December solstice.

Here are the Earth-Sun Distances for the Solstices and Equinoxes:
Distance from the Sun:
Dec 2006 Solstice: 91.5 Million miles
Mar 2007 Equinox: 92.6 Million miles
Jun 2007 Solstice: 94.4 Million miles
Sep 2007 Equinox: 93.3 Million miles

From this you can see that during northern hemisphere winter solstice in December we are indeed closest to the Sun, and during southern hemisphere winter solstice in June we are farthest.

Of course, the distance to the Sun isn't what causes the seasons - the tilt of the Earth does.

So the answer is closer for the December winter solstice, and farther for the June winter solstice.

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

The summer and winter solstiace do not have anything to do with the distance of the earth from the sun. It is caused by the axis of the earth's rotation being at a tilt of approx. 23 degrees with respect to the plane of the earth's orbit around the sun. During the winter solstace (December 21st), the northern hemisphere is pointed away from the sun to its maximum extent, (shortest day of the year) and recieves less direct sunlight. (reason for colder temperatures in winter)

During the summer solstace, the northern hemisphere is pointed towards the sun to its maximum extent, and we have the longest day of the year on June 21st.

Here is a picture that will explain:

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/earth/Seasons.shtml

Answer 5

its actually closer to the sun
which is weird, but its the tilt of the earth that makes the northern hemisphere colder during the winter...so that means for the southern hemisphere the earth is closer to the sun during summer and farther during winter making it extremes of both seasons

Answer 6

The earth is closer to the sun in it's orbit during the northern hemisphere's winter, southern hemisphere's summer.

Answer 7

Neither. The seasons do not depend on the eccentricity of the orbit of the earth. The seasons arise because of the tilt of the earth's rotation. The change in seasonal heat is due to the angle at which the sun is shining on you and NOT upon the distance which hardly varies at all.

Answer 8

Closer----the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun's rays making them deflect more. Less radiation=less heat. Plus that makes the atmosphere "thicker" because of the angle of the earth. Less radiation=less heat. Also the days are shorter and nights are longer. Less radiation=less heat. -- V

Answer 9

Perihelion, when earth is closest to the sun occurs in December - Southern Hemisphere summer and Northern Hemisphere winter.

Aphelion, when it is furthest occurs in June

Answer 10

It is farther during winter ,hence we feel cool & more over the day time is less during winter due to the revolution