<P> Earth is about 147.1 million kilometers ( 91.4 million miles ) from the Sun at perihelion around January 3 , in contrast to about 152.1 million kilometers ( 94.5 million miles ) at aphelion around July 4 -- a difference of about 5.0 million kilometers ( 3.1 million miles ) . ( These dates change over time due to precession and other orbital factors , which follow cyclical patterns known as Milankovitch cycles . For a table of these dates for various years , see Apsis . ) </P>
<P> Earth is about 147.1 million kilometers ( 91.4 million miles ) from the Sun at perihelion around January 3 , in contrast to about 152.1 million kilometers ( 94.5 million miles ) at aphelion around July 4 -- a difference of about 5.0 million kilometers ( 3.1 million miles ) . ( These dates change over time due to precession and other orbital factors , which follow cyclical patterns known as Milankovitch cycles . For a table of these dates for various years , see Apsis . ) </P>
when the earth is at its greatest distance from the sun
when the earth is at its greatest distance from the sun
around July 4
around July 4