Happy Aphelion Day

[MeteorWayne]

Happy Aphelion day!

Today the earth is at it's greatest distance from the sun of the year, ~1.0167027 AU; 152,100,000 km; 94,500,000 miles

 

[CalliArcale]

Cool! It is kinda neat how close aphelion is to the solstice (summer solstice up here in the north). Totally coincidental, of course, but it's fun because you can throw most people for a loop by revealing the fact after asking them why they think summer is warmer than winter.

 

[MeteorWayne]

Actually, hot as hell!!

All time temperature records are falling across the northeast today.

 

[3488]

Yes indeed, it is strange that the solar incidence today is just under 6% LESS than it was back in early January. Shows how the Earth's axial tilt outweighs the eccentricity of Earth's orbit.

If the Earth's orbit was as eccentic as that of Mercury or Mars, then we would definitely notice the eccentricity!!!!!!!!!!! :mrgreen:

Andrew Brown.

 

[ZenGalacticore]

Exactly how far away is the aphelion compared to the perihelion?

 

[MeteorWayne]

Perihelion Jan 3, 2011
~.9822410 AU
147.1 million km (about 5 million km less)
91.41 million miles (about 3 million less)
MW