#Comet C/2023 E1 ATLAS near #Perihelion
#Astronomy #Picture of the Day

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230714.html

#APOD #C2023E1ATLAS

Happy #perihelion day (with perihelion taking place a little over two hours ago now)!

The Earth is now at perihelion, its closest to the Sun in its annual orbit.

#Perihelion
#PerihelionDay

This time of perihelion refers to the time when the distance between the centre of Earth and the centre of the Sun is smallest. The time of perihelion varies by a few days from year to year because of the Moon's gravitational attraction on the Earth, and the slight motion of the Earth about the centre of mass of the Earth-Moon system as the Moon orbits the centre of mass.

Today, in about seven hours of writing this (16:17Z), the #Earth will be at #Perihelion, that is, at its closest point to the #Sun in its orbit. In accordance with Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion, it will also be travelling at its top speed whizzing around our star. However, the orbit is almost circular, with an eccentricity of merely 0.0167 and it’s about 1% closer to the Sun than at aphelion and so it’s easy to miss.

Close...

#perihelion

Best thing today. The light levels of the near perihelion, near solstice southern sky. 5M km closer to the star than in July. You just bathe in light down here.

Thinking of my last winter in London. Not missing it.

#sydney #solstice #Perihelion

Wintersun and a winter beach, just as fine as the summer's reach
#winter #Perihelion #prose

Damn, I missed #Perihelion, which was yesterday morning.

#Perihelion to #Aphelion
#Astronomy #Picture of the Day

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap210708.html

#APOD

The #Earth will be at #perihelion in about four and a half hours from now.

The reason for the #Solstice not exactly matching the extrema of sunrise and sunset is due to #Perihelion not coinciding with #Solstice ... #Perihelion isn't until 18:32 on January 3rd, 2021 UTC.

Happy #Solstice everyone, and warmest wishes to you all for this season between #Solstice and #Perihelion.

#Perihelion to #Aphelion
#Astronomy #Picture of the Day

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200109.html

#APOD