Earth at Perihelion and Aphelion: 2001 to 2100
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 21st Century (2001-2100). 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 363.08 to 367.86 days during the 21st Century.
Earth at Perihelion and Aphelion: 2001 to 2050
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
2001 Jan 04 08:52 0.9832860 AU -582 km Jul 04 13:37 1.0166426 AU -10122 km 367.15 days
2002 Jan 02 14:09 0.9832898 AU -20 km Jul 06 03:47 1.0166882 AU -3304 km 363.22 days
2003 Jan 04 05:02 0.9833204 AU 4556 km Jul 04 05:40 1.0167282 AU 2683 km 366.62 days
2004 Jan 04 17:42 0.9832648 AU -3752 km Jul 05 10:54 1.0166937 AU -2485 km 365.53 days
2005 Jan 02 00:35 0.9832968 AU 1032 km Jul 05 04:58 1.0167416 AU 4683 km 363.29 days
2006 Jan 04 15:30 0.9833270 AU 5543 km Jul 03 23:10 1.0166973 AU -1949 km 367.62 days
2007 Jan 03 19:43 0.9832602 AU -4449 km Jul 06 23:53 1.0167059 AU -649 km 364.18 days
2008 Jan 02 23:51 0.9832801 AU -1476 km Jul 04 07:41 1.0167535 AU 6465 km 364.17 days
2009 Jan 04 15:30 0.9832730 AU -2526 km Jul 04 01:40 1.0166664 AU -6563 km 367.65 days
2010 Jan 03 00:09 0.9832897 AU -38 km Jul 06 11:30 1.0167020 AU -1246 km 363.36 days
2011 Jan 03 18:32 0.9833413 AU 7681 km Jul 04 14:54 1.0167404 AU 4501 km 365.77 days
2012 Jan 05 00:32 0.9832841 AU -871 km Jul 05 03:32 1.0166751 AU -5270 km 366.25 days
2013 Jan 02 04:38 0.9832905 AU 82 km Jul 05 14:44 1.0167085 AU -268 km 363.17 days
2014 Jan 04 11:59 0.9833347 AU 6701 km Jul 04 00:13 1.0166816 AU -4287 km 367.31 days
2015 Jan 04 06:36 0.9832774 AU -1874 km Jul 06 19:40 1.0166821 AU -4214 km 364.78 days
2016 Jan 02 22:49 0.9833039 AU 2097 km Jul 04 16:24 1.0167509 AU 6080 km 363.68 days
2017 Jan 04 14:18 0.9833094 AU 2919 km Jul 03 20:11 1.0166756 AU -5190 km 367.65 days
2018 Jan 03 05:35 0.9832843 AU -845 km Jul 06 16:47 1.0166961 AU -2129 km 363.64 days
2019 Jan 03 05:20 0.9833012 AU 1681 km Jul 04 22:11 1.0167543 AU 6590 km 364.99 days
2020 Jan 05 07:48 0.9832436 AU -6935 km Jul 04 11:35 1.0166943 AU -2399 km 367.10 days
2021 Jan 02 13:51 0.9832571 AU -4916 km Jul 05 22:27 1.0167292 AU 2832 km 363.25 days
2022 Jan 04 06:55 0.9833365 AU 6973 km Jul 04 07:11 1.0167154 AU 760 km 366.71 days
2023 Jan 04 16:17 0.9832956 AU 845 km Jul 06 20:07 1.0166806 AU -4444 km 365.39 days
2024 Jan 03 00:39 0.9833070 AU 2553 km Jul 05 05:06 1.0167255 AU 2273 km 363.35 days
2025 Jan 04 13:28 0.9833274 AU 5607 km Jul 03 19:55 1.0166437 AU -9957 km 367.53 days
2026 Jan 03 17:16 0.9833021 AU 1815 km Jul 06 17:31 1.0166440 AU -9920 km 364.16 days
2027 Jan 03 02:33 0.9833335 AU 6513 km Jul 05 05:06 1.0167289 AU 2786 km 364.39 days
2028 Jan 05 12:28 0.9833074 AU 2608 km Jul 03 22:18 1.0166798 AU -4566 km 367.41 days
2029 Jan 02 18:13 0.9832917 AU 270 km Jul 06 05:12 1.0167127 AU 362 km 363.24 days
2030 Jan 03 10:12 0.9833418 AU 7758 km Jul 04 12:58 1.0167227 AU 1848 km 365.67 days
2031 Jan 04 20:48 0.9832664 AU -3516 km Jul 06 07:10 1.0166882 AU -3308 km 366.44 days
2032 Jan 03 05:11 0.9832469 AU -6437 km Jul 05 11:54 1.0167510 AU 6086 km 363.35 days
2033 Jan 04 11:51 0.9832989 AU 1350 km Jul 03 20:52 1.0166936 AU -2494 km 367.28 days
2034 Jan 04 04:47 0.9832893 AU -89 km Jul 06 18:49 1.0166703 AU -5979 km 364.71 days
2035 Jan 03 00:54 0.9833249 AU 5238 km Jul 05 18:22 1.0167406 AU 4539 km 363.84 days
2036 Jan 05 14:17 0.9833202 AU 4530 km Jul 03 21:17 1.0166633 AU -7033 km 367.56 days
2037 Jan 03 04:00 0.9832889 AU -152 km Jul 06 12:05 1.0166651 AU -6753 km 363.57 days
2038 Jan 03 05:01 0.9833549 AU 9718 km Jul 04 19:46 1.0166909 AU -2904 km 365.04 days
2039 Jan 05 06:41 0.9833113 AU 3192 km Jul 05 13:25 1.0166588 AU -7700 km 367.07 days
2040 Jan 03 11:33 0.9832937 AU 557 km Jul 05 19:02 1.0167271 AU 2517 km 363.20 days
2041 Jan 03 21:52 0.9833471 AU 8554 km Jul 04 01:38 1.0166887 AU -3235 km 366.43 days
2042 Jan 04 09:07 0.9833014 AU 1723 km Jul 06 13:10 1.0166554 AU -8212 km 365.47 days
2043 Jan 02 22:15 0.9832882 AU -257 km Jul 06 02:25 1.0167441 AU 5064 km 363.55 days
2044 Jan 05 12:52 0.9832896 AU -44 km Jul 03 15:24 1.0166960 AU -2140 km 367.61 days
2045 Jan 03 14:56 0.9832653 AU -3677 km Jul 06 12:51 1.0166888 AU -3210 km 364.09 days
2046 Jan 03 00:58 0.9833451 AU 8247 km Jul 05 06:06 1.0167265 AU 2432 km 364.42 days
2047 Jan 05 11:44 0.9833216 AU 4738 km Jul 05 06:32 1.0166728 AU -5608 km 367.45 days
2048 Jan 03 18:05 0.9832818 AU -1219 km Jul 06 05:08 1.0167072 AU -469 km 363.26 days
2049 Jan 03 10:27 0.9833342 AU 6626 km Jul 04 09:06 1.0166722 AU -5702 km 365.68 days
2050 Jan 04 19:35 0.9833060 AU 2411 km Jul 06 01:57 1.0166285 AU -12240 km 366.38 days
Earth at Perihelion and Aphelion: 2051 to 2100
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
2051 Jan 03 05:32 0.9833050 AU 2251 km Jul 06 10:24 1.0167252 AU 2227 km 363.41 days
2052 Jan 05 09:18 0.9833360 AU 6893 km Jul 03 16:38 1.0166952 AU -2264 km 367.16 days
2053 Jan 03 22:18 0.9833000 AU 1504 km Jul 06 12:30 1.0166678 AU -6362 km 364.54 days
2054 Jan 02 17:59 0.9833360 AU 6895 km Jul 05 15:41 1.0167191 AU 1318 km 363.82 days
2055 Jan 05 12:24 0.9833059 AU 2395 km Jul 04 20:52 1.0166803 AU -4482 km 367.77 days
2056 Jan 04 03:44 0.9832510 AU -5819 km Jul 06 08:54 1.0167106 AU 46 km 363.64 days
2057 Jan 03 03:11 0.9833268 AU 5516 km Jul 04 16:41 1.0167009 AU -1403 km 364.98 days
2058 Jan 05 04:00 0.9833282 AU 5720 km Jul 05 15:42 1.0166423 AU -10172 km 367.03 days
2059 Jan 03 10:44 0.9833125 AU 3381 km Jul 06 21:25 1.0167173 AU 1052 km 363.28 days
2060 Jan 04 22:56 0.9833475 AU 8619 km Jul 03 22:59 1.0166774 AU -4915 km 366.51 days
2061 Jan 04 07:33 0.9833020 AU 1806 km Jul 06 07:20 1.0166276 AU -12369 km 365.36 days
2062 Jan 02 21:16 0.9833381 AU 7207 km Jul 05 23:47 1.0166934 AU -2533 km 363.57 days
2063 Jan 05 13:41 0.9833456 AU 8334 km Jul 04 15:21 1.0166766 AU -5045 km 367.68 days
2064 Jan 04 11:54 0.9832847 AU -786 km Jul 06 10:56 1.0166970 AU -1992 km 363.93 days
2065 Jan 02 15:10 0.9833376 AU 7138 km Jul 05 01:37 1.0167053 AU -750 km 364.14 days
2066 Jan 05 05:45 0.9833176 AU 4133 km Jul 05 01:43 1.0166501 AU -8997 km 367.61 days
2067 Jan 03 17:05 0.9832582 AU -4744 km Jul 07 03:13 1.0167272 AU 2531 km 363.47 days
2068 Jan 04 14:29 0.9833105 AU 3072 km Jul 04 04:07 1.0167116 AU 199 km 365.89 days
2069 Jan 04 18:25 0.9832922 AU 337 km Jul 05 23:15 1.0166518 AU -8751 km 366.16 days
2070 Jan 03 02:51 0.9833399 AU 7483 km Jul 06 12:01 1.0167077 AU -393 km 363.35 days
2071 Jan 05 09:44 0.9833695 AU 11908 km Jul 04 20:40 1.0166728 AU -5609 km 367.29 days
2072 Jan 04 21:02 0.9832971 AU 1072 km Jul 06 13:26 1.0166524 AU -8662 km 364.47 days
2073 Jan 02 14:41 0.9833422 AU 7822 km Jul 05 10:53 1.0166638 AU -6961 km 363.74 days
2074 Jan 05 11:25 0.9833539 AU 9572 km Jul 04 14:25 1.0166238 AU -12938 km 367.86 days
2075 Jan 04 02:14 0.9832991 AU 1365 km Jul 07 06:43 1.0166985 AU -1761 km 363.62 days
2076 Jan 03 23:33 0.9833490 AU 8835 km Jul 04 11:19 1.0167123 AU 305 km 364.89 days
2077 Jan 04 20:53 0.9833166 AU 3993 km Jul 05 10:10 1.0166495 AU -9098 km 366.89 days
2078 Jan 03 04:23 0.9833051 AU 2270 km Jul 06 19:39 1.0167126 AU 345 km 363.31 days
2079 Jan 05 00:15 0.9833227 AU 4909 km Jul 04 21:26 1.0167068 AU -523 km 366.83 days
2080 Jan 05 07:55 0.9832554 AU -5168 km Jul 06 06:41 1.0166794 AU -4615 km 365.32 days
2081 Jan 02 18:56 0.9833124 AU 3361 km Jul 05 21:26 1.0167017 AU -1279 km 363.46 days
2082 Jan 05 13:51 0.9833623 AU 10833 km Jul 04 16:22 1.0166536 AU -8487 km 367.79 days
2083 Jan 04 11:28 0.9833035 AU 2033 km Jul 07 15:14 1.0166815 AU -4301 km 363.90 days
2084 Jan 03 16:49 0.9833426 AU 7884 km Jul 04 22:43 1.0166848 AU -3810 km 364.22 days
2085 Jan 05 04:33 0.9833329 AU 6434 km Jul 04 21:34 1.0166125 AU -14634 km 367.49 days
2086 Jan 03 15:22 0.9833259 AU 5374 km Jul 07 01:39 1.0166728 AU -5611 km 363.45 days
2087 Jan 04 16:38 0.9833750 AU 12726 km Jul 05 02:06 1.0166928 AU -2610 km 366.05 days
2088 Jan 05 14:59 0.9833139 AU 3590 km Jul 05 22:11 1.0166542 AU -8395 km 365.93 days
2089 Jan 02 17:01 0.9833327 AU 6395 km Jul 06 07:15 1.0166832 AU -4055 km 363.08 days
2090 Jan 05 04:45 0.9833638 AU 11046 km Jul 04 15:09 1.0166552 AU -8248 km 367.49 days
2091 Jan 04 19:22 0.9832678 AU -3302 km Jul 07 12:55 1.0166834 AU -4023 km 364.61 days
2092 Jan 03 15:29 0.9833054 AU 2322 km Jul 05 05:57 1.0167147 AU 664 km 363.84 days
2093 Jan 05 10:16 0.9833305 AU 6064 km Jul 04 13:21 1.0166530 AU -8569 km 367.78 days
2094 Jan 04 00:17 0.9833211 AU 4659 km Jul 07 10:07 1.0166881 AU -3317 km 363.58 days
2095 Jan 04 03:56 0.9833712 AU 12160 km Jul 05 13:09 1.0166974 AU -1921 km 365.15 days
2096 Jan 05 21:56 0.9833078 AU 2680 km Jul 05 13:39 1.0166308 AU -11885 km 366.75 days
2097 Jan 03 00:52 0.9833196 AU 4443 km Jul 06 16:04 1.0166528 AU -8598 km 363.12 days
2098 Jan 05 02:34 0.9833866 AU 14468 km Jul 04 16:43 1.0166432 AU -10036 km 367.07 days
2099 Jan 05 06:18 0.9833081 AU 2725 km Jul 07 08:08 1.0166617 AU -7271 km 365.16 days
2100 Jan 03 13:54 0.9833398 AU 7460 km Jul 06 15:58 1.0167027 AU -1130 km 363.32 days
Extreme Perihelion and Aphelion
The extremes in Earth's perihelion and aphelion distances for the 21st 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: 2001 to 2100
Date GMT Distance Relative to
Mean Per.
Minimum Perihelion: 2020 Jan 05 07:48 0.9832436 AU -6935 km
Maximum Perihelion: 2098 Jan 05 02:34 0.9833866 AU 14468 km
Range of Perihelion: 0.0001431 AU 21403 km
Earth’s mean distance from the Sun at perihelion is 0.9832899 AU (147,098,074 km).
Extreme Intervals Between Perihelions of Earth: 2001 to 2100
Date GMT Distance Relative to Perihelion
Mean Per. Interval
Minimum Interval: 2089 Jan 02 17:01 0.9833327 AU 6395 km 363.08 days
Maximum Interval: 2074 Jan 05 11:25 0.9833539 AU 9572 km 367.86 days
Extreme Aphelions of Earth: 2001 to 2100
Date GMT Distance Relative to
Mean Ap.
Minimum Aphelion: 2085 Jul 04 21:34 1.0166125 AU -14634 km
Maximum Aphelion: 2019 Jul 04 22:11 1.0167543 AU 6590 km
Range of Aphelion: 0.0001419 AU 21225 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".