During which season is the Earth closest to the Sun?

The Earth is closest to the Sun during winter in the Northern Hemisphere, which occurs around early January. This phenomenon is known as perihelion, when the Earth's orbit brings it closest to the Sun, despite the cold temperatures typically experienced in winter.

The misconception arises because many people associate summer with heat and sunny weather, leading them to assume that the Earth is closest to the Sun during that time. However, the Earth's orbit is elliptical, meaning that the distance from the Sun varies throughout the year. The actual angle of the Earth's tilt and how sunlight is distributed on the surface creates the seasons, not the distance from the Sun itself. Thus, while winter is seasonally colder, it is the time when the Earth is closest to the Sun, making it the correct answer.