Sun and the seasons

Perihelion (சூரிய அண்மை) vs Aphelion (சூரியச் சேய்மை)

Here is an event every year around this time in your calendar that helps to understand that seasons on Earth are not dependent on their distance from Sun. Then what?

Of course, it’s the axial tilt during its journey around the Sun.

Today at around 12.09 pm, the planet Earth reached the closest point to the Sun, a phenomenon known as Perihelion. Since Earth is in an elliptical orbit, it will be farthest from the Sun on July 4, 2022, which is scientifically known as Aphelion.

The popular perception among people is that the distance between Earth and Sun usually decides the seasons and temperatures in a year.

It’s not true. The axial tilt, which is approximately 23.5 degrees, of Earth on its axis while revolving around the Sun regulates seasons

At the beginning of the year in January, it is winter in most of the countries in the Northern Hemisphere. Earth is closest to the Sun in January while it is summer in Southern Hemisphere countries.

In July when Earth is at the farthest point from the Sun, it’s mostly hot in India and neighborhood, when compared to what it is in January, clearly indicating that the distance between Earth and Sun doesn’t decide seasons but it’s the tilt during its yearly journey around Sun.