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

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Sep 27, 2025Astronomy Day and National Public Lands Day
May 1, 2019Purple flowers and Golden Week
Apr 24, 2023Old underground cellar, Bavaria, Germany
Sep 23, 2021Last stop before leaving the solar system
Apr 9, 2019The glowing waters of the Matsu Islands
Sep 6, 2024Glenariff Forest Park, Northern Ireland, UK
Feb 1, 2019‘Stepping’ into Black History Month
Dec 22, 2018Night of the ‘Cold Moon’
Jan 21, 2021The tale of squirrels like Nutkin
Feb 26, 2022Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Apr 9, 2022Light show at the skatepark
Feb 10, 2018Bonifacio on the island of Corsica, France
Jan 15, 2019A personal collection becomes an institution
Aug 11, 2025Village of Santa Maddalena, Dolomites, Italy
Nov 15, 2023Rapa Valley in Sarek National Park, Sweden
Jun 7, 2021Dressed to impress
Jul 31, 2024Hoodoos, Sunset Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Oct 7, 2019From the mind of Frank Gehry
Aug 4, 2022Satla marshland in Bangladesh
Feb 4, 2025Golden Bridge, Bà Nà Hills, Da Nang, Vietnam
Jun 20, 2021Happy Father s Day
Aug 31, 2020At the shore of an inland sea
May 6, 2021Why you should thank a nurse today
May 29, 2018The first ascent
Jan 17, 2022Martin Luther King Day
Mar 9, 2024Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico
Sep 16, 2018Mexico celebrates its Independence Day
Jul 13, 2025Iceland for International Rock Day
Sep 6, 2021All in a day s work
Jul 28, 2018Defying gravity on a swing ride