This is the most common point of confusion. The key insight:
| Event | Date (approx.) | Distance from Sun | Northern Hemisphere Season | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | (Closest) | January 2-5 | ~91.4 million miles | Winter (Cold) | | Aphelion (Farthest) | July 4-7 | ~94.5 million miles | Summer (Hot) | when is earth closest to the sun
What Causes the Seasons? | NASA Space Place – NASA Science for Kids when is earth closest to the sun