Earth at Perihelion and Aphelion: 1901 to 2000
Greenwich Mean Time
Introduction
Earth revolves around the Sun in an elliptical orbit with a mean eccentricity of 0.0167. As a result, Earth’s distance from the Sun (center-to-center) varies with mean values of 0.9832899 AU (147,098,074 km) at perihelion (closest) to 1.0167103 AU (152,097,701 km) at aphelion (most distant).
Due of the gravitational perturbation of the Moon (and to a much lesser extent the planets), Earth's actual distance at perihelion can vary from 0.9831914 AU (147,083,346 km) to 0.9833860 AU (147,112,452 km). This a range of 0.0001946 AU (29,106 km), which corresponds to about 2.28 times the 12,756 km equatorial diameter of Earth.
Similarly, the aphelion distance can vary from 1.0166125 AU (152,083,061 km) to 1.0168068 AU (152,112,126 km). This a range of 0.0001943 AU (29,065 km), also corresponding to about 2.28 times the 12,756 km equatorial diameter of Earth.
These extreme values of perihelion and aphelion were found over the 200-year period 1901 to 2100.
The table presented below gives the date and time (Greenwich Mean Time) of all perihelions and aphelions of Earth for the 16th Century (1901 to 2000). If Daylight Saving Time is in effect, add one hour to the times listed. For conversion to other time zones, see Time Zones and Universal Time.
The distances of perihelion and aphelion are given in Astronomical Units (AU), as well as the relative distance of each (in kilometers) with respect to their mean distances. Finally, the number of days elapsed between the current and previous perihelion is given. This interval ranges from 363.04 to 367.97 days during the 20th Century.
Earth at Perihelion and Aphelion: 1901 to 1950
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Year Date/Time of Distance Relative to Date/Time of Distance Relative to Perihelion
Perihelion Mean Per. Aphelion Mean Ap. Interval
1901 Jan 02 20:19 0.9831914 AU -14733 km Jul 02 13:23 1.0167900 AU 11929 km 365.00 days
1902 Jan 01 07:24 0.9832281 AU -9241 km Jul 04 16:22 1.0167406 AU 4533 km 363.46 days
1903 Jan 04 00:43 0.9832749 AU -2252 km Jul 04 13:00 1.0167693 AU 8832 km 367.72 days
1904 Jan 03 04:16 0.9832188 AU -10633 km Jul 03 04:11 1.0167402 AU 4472 km 364.15 days
1905 Jan 01 04:27 0.9832758 AU -2115 km Jul 05 01:24 1.0167655 AU 8255 km 364.01 days
1906 Jan 03 16:35 0.9832681 AU -3261 km Jul 03 15:45 1.0167677 AU 8586 km 367.51 days
1907 Jan 02 07:28 0.9832276 AU -9316 km Jul 03 07:06 1.0166923 AU -2686 km 363.62 days
1908 Jan 02 23:03 0.9832742 AU -2351 km Jul 05 15:46 1.0167554 AU 6744 km 365.65 days
1909 Jan 03 05:41 0.9832301 AU -8954 km Jul 02 18:55 1.0167778 AU 10104 km 366.28 days
1910 Jan 01 10:53 0.9832621 AU -4162 km Jul 04 04:08 1.0167249 AU 2188 km 363.22 days
1911 Jan 03 15:03 0.9833030 AU 1959 km Jul 04 22:34 1.0167566 AU 6930 km 367.17 days
1912 Jan 03 10:44 0.9832088 AU -12128 km Jul 03 06:35 1.0167395 AU 4371 km 364.82 days
1913 Jan 01 02:21 0.9832361 AU -8056 km Jul 04 23:16 1.0167490 AU 5789 km 363.65 days
1914 Jan 03 20:51 0.9832570 AU -4920 km Jul 03 23:52 1.0167721 AU 9249 km 367.77 days
1915 Jan 02 18:04 0.9832246 AU -9768 km Jul 02 23:17 1.0167168 AU 979 km 363.88 days
1916 Jan 02 12:39 0.9832876 AU -351 km Jul 05 21:23 1.0167675 AU 8564 km 364.77 days
1917 Jan 03 10:55 0.9832535 AU -5443 km Jul 03 05:25 1.0167919 AU 12204 km 366.93 days
1918 Jan 01 16:59 0.9832532 AU -5489 km Jul 03 19:15 1.0167086 AU -251 km 363.25 days
1919 Jan 03 08:24 0.9833075 AU 2636 km Jul 05 07:46 1.0167242 AU 2083 km 366.64 days
1920 Jan 03 21:47 0.9832302 AU -8927 km Jul 03 09:29 1.0167203 AU 1499 km 365.56 days
1921 Jan 01 04:30 0.9832625 AU -4104 km Jul 04 14:10 1.0167211 AU 1617 km 363.28 days
1922 Jan 03 16:57 0.9833022 AU 1838 km Jul 04 08:07 1.0167630 AU 7882 km 367.52 days
1923 Jan 02 23:22 0.9832262 AU -9527 km Jul 02 21:44 1.0167248 AU 2171 km 364.27 days
1924 Jan 02 01:54 0.9832468 AU -6445 km Jul 06 00:20 1.0167614 AU 7648 km 364.11 days
1925 Jan 03 15:41 0.9832164 AU -10991 km Jul 03 13:22 1.0168068 AU 14430 km 367.57 days
1926 Jan 02 03:36 0.9832127 AU -11558 km Jul 03 04:56 1.0167334 AU 3453 km 363.50 days
1927 Jan 03 01:35 0.9833015 AU 1737 km Jul 05 13:59 1.0167498 AU 5910 km 365.92 days
1928 Jan 04 06:49 0.9832459 AU -6591 km Jul 03 18:07 1.0167580 AU 7130 km 366.22 days
1929 Jan 01 07:59 0.9832663 AU -3537 km Jul 04 10:48 1.0167239 AU 2039 km 363.05 days
1930 Jan 03 12:21 0.9833167 AU 4000 km Jul 04 21:07 1.0167377 AU 4098 km 367.18 days
1931 Jan 03 10:38 0.9832422 AU -7142 km Jul 03 01:03 1.0166914 AU -2829 km 364.93 days
1932 Jan 02 03:21 0.9832754 AU -2175 km Jul 05 22:29 1.0167095 AU -113 km 363.70 days
1933 Jan 03 18:52 0.9832741 AU -2363 km Jul 03 20:29 1.0167758 AU 9793 km 367.65 days
1934 Jan 02 09:31 0.9832491 AU -6105 km Jul 02 19:47 1.0167261 AU 2371 km 363.61 days
1935 Jan 02 07:33 0.9833015 AU 1737 km Jul 05 18:37 1.0167358 AU 3813 km 364.92 days
1936 Jan 04 09:51 0.9832193 AU -10567 km Jul 04 01:52 1.0167669 AU 8472 km 367.10 days
1937 Jan 01 14:15 0.9832104 AU -11903 km Jul 03 19:57 1.0167347 AU 3649 km 363.18 days
1938 Jan 03 08:02 0.9832856 AU -643 km Jul 05 03:51 1.0167584 AU 7197 km 366.74 days
1939 Jan 03 22:11 0.9832342 AU -8334 km Jul 03 04:07 1.0167388 AU 4260 km 365.59 days
1940 Jan 02 05:26 0.9832719 AU -2692 km Jul 05 19:54 1.0167371 AU 4007 km 363.30 days
1941 Jan 03 18:10 0.9832868 AU -460 km Jul 04 09:48 1.0167856 AU 11269 km 367.53 days
1942 Jan 02 19:15 0.9832499 AU -5991 km Jul 02 22:52 1.0167158 AU 823 km 364.05 days
1943 Jan 02 04:35 0.9833055 AU 2335 km Jul 06 00:05 1.0166911 AU -2866 km 364.39 days
1944 Jan 04 17:36 0.9832622 AU -4150 km Jul 04 10:27 1.0167341 AU 3562 km 367.54 days
1945 Jan 01 22:45 0.9832545 AU -5300 km Jul 03 05:33 1.0167082 AU -313 km 363.21 days
1946 Jan 02 17:52 0.9833323 AU 6346 km Jul 05 10:02 1.0167293 AU 2847 km 365.80 days
1947 Jan 04 02:45 0.9832523 AU -5624 km Jul 03 10:39 1.0167303 AU 2988 km 366.37 days
1948 Jan 02 05:10 0.9832389 AU -7638 km Jul 05 10:38 1.0167182 AU 1183 km 363.10 days
1949 Jan 03 13:30 0.9832628 AU -4058 km Jul 04 17:28 1.0167827 AU 10829 km 367.35 days
1950 Jan 03 06:17 0.9832274 AU -9346 km Jul 02 20:44 1.0167420 AU 4740 km 364.70 days
Earth at Perihelion and Aphelion: 1951 to 2000
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Year Date/Time of Distance Relative to Date/Time of Distance Relative to Perihelion
Perihelion Mean Per. Aphelion Mean Ap. Interval
1951 Jan 02 03:51 0.9832937 AU 571 km Jul 05 22:31 1.0167154 AU 758 km 363.90 days
1952 Jan 04 20:41 0.9832759 AU -2091 km Jul 04 20:54 1.0167698 AU 8904 km 367.70 days
1953 Jan 02 06:37 0.9832440 AU -6866 km Jul 03 02:18 1.0167280 AU 2650 km 363.41 days
1954 Jan 02 08:19 0.9833187 AU 4300 km Jul 05 18:19 1.0167122 AU 281 km 365.07 days
1955 Jan 04 12:21 0.9832563 AU -5030 km Jul 03 19:54 1.0167144 AU 618 km 367.17 days
1956 Jan 02 13:23 0.9832531 AU -5501 km Jul 04 22:04 1.0166940 AU -2429 km 363.04 days
1957 Jan 03 06:30 0.9833111 AU 3171 km Jul 05 01:12 1.0167619 AU 7713 km 366.71 days
1958 Jan 03 13:24 0.9832623 AU -4138 km Jul 03 00:21 1.0167386 AU 4241 km 365.29 days
1959 Jan 02 00:17 0.9832843 AU -836 km Jul 05 19:54 1.0166978 AU -1862 km 363.45 days
1960 Jan 04 18:52 0.9832551 AU -5203 km Jul 05 06:34 1.0167629 AU 7874 km 367.77 days
1961 Jan 02 16:47 0.9832087 AU -12156 km Jul 02 21:33 1.0167389 AU 4286 km 363.91 days
1962 Jan 02 04:48 0.9832989 AU 1346 km Jul 05 19:52 1.0167187 AU 1253 km 364.50 days
1963 Jan 04 19:36 0.9832733 AU -2479 km Jul 04 04:48 1.0167436 AU 4978 km 367.62 days
1964 Jan 02 20:44 0.9832649 AU -3750 km Jul 04 13:27 1.0167151 AU 720 km 363.05 days
1965 Jan 02 19:17 0.9833204 AU 4560 km Jul 05 12:06 1.0167501 AU 5953 km 365.94 days
1966 Jan 03 22:47 0.9832702 AU -2947 km Jul 03 08:21 1.0167214 AU 1661 km 366.15 days
1967 Jan 02 05:55 0.9832885 AU -212 km Jul 05 11:51 1.0166585 AU -7743 km 363.30 days
1968 Jan 04 18:02 0.9832946 AU 704 km Jul 05 14:28 1.0167341 AU 3568 km 367.51 days
1969 Jan 03 01:06 0.9832490 AU -6115 km Jul 02 19:55 1.0167349 AU 3684 km 364.29 days
1970 Jan 01 21:09 0.9833089 AU 2838 km Jul 05 19:53 1.0167058 AU -668 km 363.84 days
1971 Jan 04 18:31 0.9832661 AU -3561 km Jul 04 14:50 1.0167475 AU 5571 km 367.89 days
1972 Jan 03 04:14 0.9832157 AU -11104 km Jul 04 04:14 1.0167272 AU 2532 km 363.40 days
1973 Jan 02 11:59 0.9832765 AU -2001 km Jul 05 16:58 1.0167541 AU 6559 km 365.32 days
1974 Jan 04 09:40 0.9832624 AU -4124 km Jul 03 14:58 1.0167524 AU 6301 km 366.90 days
1975 Jan 02 12:56 0.9832890 AU -132 km Jul 05 01:26 1.0166830 AU -4087 km 363.14 days
1976 Jan 04 11:04 0.9833199 AU 4479 km Jul 06 02:35 1.0167446 AU 5136 km 366.92 days
1977 Jan 03 09:54 0.9832624 AU -4110 km Jul 03 03:20 1.0167300 AU 2944 km 364.95 days
1978 Jan 01 23:18 0.9833110 AU 3155 km Jul 05 20:28 1.0166612 AU -7348 km 363.56 days
1979 Jan 04 22:35 0.9832993 AU 1409 km Jul 05 00:18 1.0167052 AU -768 km 367.97 days
1980 Jan 03 14:44 0.9832552 AU -5196 km Jul 03 21:03 1.0167008 AU -1416 km 363.67 days
1981 Jan 02 01:41 0.9833194 AU 4405 km Jul 05 17:43 1.0167253 AU 2243 km 364.46 days
1982 Jan 04 11:19 0.9832949 AU 742 km Jul 03 23:03 1.0167485 AU 5722 km 367.40 days
1983 Jan 02 15:16 0.9832632 AU -3992 km Jul 04 13:30 1.0166833 AU -4034 km 363.16 days
1984 Jan 03 21:59 0.9832787 AU -1684 km Jul 06 09:59 1.0167444 AU 5097 km 366.28 days
1985 Jan 03 19:53 0.9832213 AU -10272 km Jul 03 06:22 1.0167586 AU 7228 km 365.91 days
1986 Jan 02 04:54 0.9832788 AU -1669 km Jul 05 10:16 1.0166890 AU -3186 km 363.38 days
1987 Jan 04 23:02 0.9833010 AU 1658 km Jul 05 10:05 1.0167447 AU 5142 km 367.76 days
1988 Jan 03 23:58 0.9832521 AU -5657 km Jul 04 01:01 1.0167374 AU 4056 km 364.04 days
1989 Jan 01 21:52 0.9833082 AU 2730 km Jul 05 23:56 1.0167174 AU 1061 km 363.91 days
1990 Jan 04 17:23 0.9833028 AU 1927 km Jul 04 11:33 1.0167235 AU 1972 km 367.81 days
1991 Jan 03 02:59 0.9832809 AU -1355 km Jul 04 05:04 1.0166521 AU -8709 km 363.40 days
1992 Jan 03 15:02 0.9833240 AU 5093 km Jul 06 15:26 1.0167028 AU -1126 km 365.50 days
1993 Jan 04 03:04 0.9832826 AU -1090 km Jul 03 12:07 1.0167400 AU 4445 km 366.50 days
1994 Jan 02 05:54 0.9833013 AU 1700 km Jul 04 22:21 1.0166663 AU -6575 km 363.12 days
1995 Jan 04 11:05 0.9833023 AU 1858 km Jul 05 19:17 1.0167240 AU 2052 km 367.22 days
1996 Jan 04 07:25 0.9832228 AU -10040 km Jul 04 02:17 1.0167418 AU 4716 km 364.85 days
1997 Jan 01 23:16 0.9832674 AU -3368 km Jul 05 19:00 1.0167173 AU 1052 km 363.66 days
1998 Jan 04 21:15 0.9832998 AU 1474 km Jul 04 19:19 1.0167536 AU 6478 km 367.92 days
1999 Jan 03 13:00 0.9832809 AU -1348 km Jul 03 23:50 1.0166963 AU -2088 km 363.66 days
2000 Jan 03 05:18 0.9833214 AU 4711 km Jul 03 23:49 1.0167411 AU 4607 km 364.68 days
Extreme Perihelion and Aphelion
The extremes in Earth's perihelion and aphelion distances for the 19th Century are listed below. Earth’s mean distance from the Sun at perihelion is 0.9832899 AU (147,098,074 km). Earth’s mean distance from the Sun at aphelion is 1.0167103 AU (152,097,701 km).
Extreme Perihelions of Earth: 1901 to 2000
Date GMT Distance Relative to
Mean Per.
Minimum Perihelion: 1901 Jan 02 20:19 0.9831914 AU -14733 km
Maximum Perihelion: 1946 Jan 02 17:52 0.9833323 AU 6346 km
Range of Perihelion: 0.0001409 AU 21080 km
Earth’s mean distance from the Sun at perihelion is 0.9832899 AU (147,098,074 km).
Extreme Intervals Between Perihelions of Earth: 1901 to 2000
Date GMT Distance Relative to Perihelion
Mean Per. Interval
Minimum Interval: 1956 Jan 02 13:23 0.9832531 AU -5501 km 363.04 days
Maximum Interval: 1979 Jan 04 22:35 0.9832993 AU 1409 km 367.97 days
Extreme Aphelions of Earth: 1901 to 2000
Date GMT Distance Relative to
Mean Ap.
Minimum Aphelion: 1990 Jul 04 05:04 1.0166521 AU -8709 km
Maximum Aphelion: 1924 Jul 03 13:22 1.0168068 AU 14430 km
Range of Aphelion: 0.0001547 AU 23139 km
Earth’s mean distance from the Sun at aphelion is 1.0167103 AU (152,097,701 km).
Earth at Perihelion and Aphelion
Earth at Perihelion and Aphelion for other centuries from 1501 through 2500 can be found via the following links.
| 1501-1600 |
1601-1700 |
1701-1800 |
1801-1900 |
1901-2000 |
| 2001-2100 |
2101-2200 |
2201-2300 |
2301-2400 |
2401-2500 |
Acknowledgement
All calculations are by Fred Espenak, and he assumes full responsibility for their accuracy. The JPL DE405 is used to predict the times and distances of Earth at perihelion and aphelion.
Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by the acknowledgment:
- "Earth perihelion and aphelion Table Courtesy of Fred Espenak, www.Astropixels.com".