Earth at aphelion: farthest distance from the Sun this July 3

Meteorological analyst Jean Suriel reported that this Thursday, July 3, the Earth reached its farthest point from the Sun in a phenomenon known as aphelion. At this stage, the planet is approximately 152 million kilometers away from the Sun.

Suriel explained via X that aphelion occurs once a year as part of Earth’s elliptical orbit, which causes the planet to gradually move farther from and closer to the Sun over the course of its 365-day orbit.

In contrast, the perihelion—when Earth is closest to the Sun—typically happens in early January, at a distance of about 147 million kilometers, during which Earth travels faster in its orbit.