Earth at Perihelion Jan 4, 2023

Earth at Perihelion

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.

© JSC/NASA

palette

Today in History

Jan 4, 2019Observing World Braille Day in Bavaria
Jan 4, 2020Celebrating whales—and a whale of a tale
Jan 4, 2021Sparkling ice diamonds on a black sandy beach
Jan 4, 2022Borrego Badlands
Jan 4, 2024Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California
Jan 4, 2025Bản Giốc–Detian Falls, Vietnam
Jan 4, 2026Kings Mountain, Chugach Mountains, Alaska

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Apr 8, 2018It’s Draw a Bird Day
Apr 10, 2020Brotherly cubs
Jun 6, 2024The 80th anniversary of D-Day
Dec 9, 2025National Llama Day
Nov 21, 2018A showcase for future fame
Nov 11, 2021Veterans Day
Mar 23, 2024World Meteorological Day
Mar 2, 2021Fall for Chile
Oct 7, 2025Fall colors below Mount Sneffels near Ridgway, Colorado
Nov 21, 2019Le Beaujolais nouveau est arrivé!
Sep 25, 2020One for the books
Jun 5, 2023World Environment Day
Jun 15, 2023Nature Photography Day
Mar 29, 2019A place called ‘Peace’ in India
Mar 14, 2019Rocky mountain pi
Nov 20, 2025World Childrens Day
Dec 26, 2025Boxing Day
Apr 4, 2023Roman bridge of Córdoba, Spain
May 13, 2021Hues of Hokkaido
Jan 19, 2023Sundance Film Festival opens in Park City
Dec 16, 2018Holidays in the Venetian Lagoon
Nov 24, 2023Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington
Sep 5, 20221934 Labor Day parade, Gastonia, North Carolina
Jun 14, 2021A Flag Day tradition
Apr 16, 2023Go Fly a Kite Day
Aug 25, 2021Happy anniversary to the National Park Service!
Mar 12, 2021Ringing in the new year at Teotihuacan
Nov 30, 2024Saint Andrews Day
Jan 4, 2020Celebrating whales—and a whale of a tale
May 4, 2018May the Fourth be with you…