Instead, seasons are caused by the . In January, even though we are physically closer to the sun, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from it, leading to shorter days and colder temperatures. Meanwhile, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, enjoying the height of summer. Why Does the Date Shift?
You might notice that perihelion doesn't land on the exact same day every year. This is due to the complexities of orbital mechanics: during which month is the earth closest to the sun link
While it doesn’t flip the seasons, being closer to the sun does have measurable effects: Instead, seasons are caused by the
The gravitational pull from giants like Jupiter and Saturn can subtly alter Earth’s orbital path over long periods. How Perihelion Affects the Earth Why Does the Date Shift
Because perihelion coincides with the Southern Hemisphere's summer, their summers can technically be slightly warmer than Northern Hemisphere summers, though ocean distribution usually tempers this effect.