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How far is Earth from the Sun?
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Earth
A composite image of Earth captured by instruments aboard NASA's Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite, 2012.
The average distance between Earth and the Sun is defined as one astronomical unit (AU), which is exactly 149,597,870.7 kilometers (approximately 92,955,807.3 miles).12
Because Earth’s orbit is nearly circular, this distance remains relatively consistent throughout the year. However, Earth does experience slight variations in its distance from the Sun:2
- Perihelion: The point in Earth's orbit where it is closest to the Sun, occurring in early January.3
- Aphelion: The point in Earth's orbit where it is farthest from the Sun, occurring in early July.3
At perihelion, Earth is about 4,800,000 kilometers (3,000,000 miles) closer to the Sun than it is at aphelion. This stable orbital distance is a critical factor in maintaining the climate conditions necessary to support life on our planet.32