We"ve reached perihelion! Two weeks after winter solstice the Earth"s orbit is closer to the sun than at any other time of year—a result of the Earth"s elliptical orbit. You may think, "If we"re so close to the sun, why can"t I feel the heat?" Well, that"s because we"re only receiving about 7% more solar energy than normal, which doesn"t really have much impact on the weather.
Earth at Perihelion
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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It s Tolkien Reading Day
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An oceanic valentine
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Short-eared owl
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Nazar amulets, Goreme National Park, Cappadocia, Turkey
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Taiwan yuhinas in Alishan National Scenic Area
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American bison
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Bear watching in the Finnish forest
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A night on the (ghost) town
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A red fox on the Swiss side of the Jura Mountain range
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Land of the midnight sun
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I see one!
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Star Wars Day
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Juniper Springs, Florida
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The cycle begins anew
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When Death Valley blew its top
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Golden larches and Prusik Peak, the Enchantments, Washington
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Islands that turned the tide
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Across the great plains of Africa
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The Bazaruto Archipelago of Mozambique
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Regional Park of Migliarino, San Rossore, Massaciuccoli, Italy
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Mapping courage in the Seventh Ward
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Guilin and Lijiang River National Park, China
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International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples
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Road-trip worthy attraction in the heartland
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Atlantic puffin, Iceland
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A Carpathian Christmas celebration
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National Audubon Society s Christmas Bird Count
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The Vestibule at Diocletian s Palace, Split, Croatia
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Bear Hole Brook, Catskill Mountains, New York
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Okefenokee Swamp