Are we moving closer to the sun?

Answer 1

The orbit of the earth around the sun is elliptical like a flattened circle. This means that at times we are closer to the sun in our orbit around it than at other times of the year. It just happens that during our summer in the northern hemisphere, we are farther from the planet. That is why our summers are not as hot as the southern hemisphere's summers on average. So right now we are moving farther from the sun than we are during the winter.

Answer 2

No. We are presently moving away.

Our orbit around the Sun is an ellipse. Every year, we pass through a point of the ellipse closest to the Sun (called perihelion) and a point furthest away from the Sun (called aphelion).

In 2007:
perihelion: January 3, at 147,093,602 km centre to centre.
aphelion: July 6-7, at 152,097,053.
The mean distance in 2007 is 149,595,327

In 2008, the mean distance will be roughly 500 km more (not a big deal over such a distance). This change is due to the gravitational effect of all the other planets combined (especially Jupiter). This trend will continue for some time. Then we will start to get closer (by the same slow rate)

This yearly change in mean distance follows some kind of pattern. The astronomical unit (149,597,870.7 km) is based on a mean taken over periods covering very long time periods.

Even though our mean distance is presently moving away from the Sun, it is still closer than one astronomical unit.

In passing:
As you can see by the dates of perihelion and aphelion, the seasons are not caused by the change in distance from the Sun. Seasons are the result of the tilt of Earth's spin axis, in relation to the plane of its orbit.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Season

If we look at even longer periods of time: the Sun will (very slowly) lose mass. Mass is being used in producing the energy that gives us heat and light. As the mass of the Sun decreases, our orbit will grow larger (we will move away). However, this is a process that acts over billions of years. It is so small at present, that it cannot be measured.

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We are losing orbital energy because (according to theory) we emit gravitational waves. This energy loss should cause our orbit to get smaller (i.e., move us closer to the Sun). However, each wave carries so little energy that the effect is even smaller than the effect from the Sun's loss of mass.

So far though, I've been dealing with distances from centre to centre.

In a little more than 5 billion years, our Sun will become a red giant. By that time, it may become large enough that its surface will actually reach Earth's orbit or come close to it.
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_giant#The_Sun_as_a_red_giant

Answer 3

Actually, the earth moves in an erratic elliptical orbit. It is basically a round orbit but it changes a little every year BUT remains, thankfully, in the very narrow distance band of life existing and no life being able to exist. Now, with spring coming near, we are getting slightly closer to the sun than in winter. Too far away=no life. Too close=no life. Where earth's orbit stays, life flourishes. Very small distance variation keeps earth life supporting.
OK?........OK.

Answer 4

I don't really believe that we are actually moving closer to the sun, however over the years mankind has been destroying the ozone layer that protects us from the damage the direct sun's rays can do to us and so it may seem as if temperatures are getting hotter and hotter.

Answer 5

no the sun is moving closer to us. I mean maybe we are moving in at a slower pace than the sun, but as the sun burns up its fuel, the sun gets bigger, basically it gets bloated because it ate so fast, and the sun will basically consume our solar system and when it burns all the fuel, it collapses on itself, condenses and explodes into a supernovae explosion.

Answer 6

Yes, at the current time being. We move closer to the sun during Spring, Summer, and start to move away from it again when Fall and Winter hit. Thats how seasons come about.

Answer 7

Yes we are in a long time, the sun's gravitational pull will eventually pull us into it.

Answer 8

Basic orbital mechanics and Newton's laws tell us: no.

Answer 9

No. away. You are 1.7% further away than average on July 4th.

Answer 10

I am ...ouch ! Now I'm not ... got any Neosporin ?