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January 3, 2026 Skywatchers across the world were greeted with a striking celestial sight today as the Sun appeared marginally larger and brighter at sunrise, marking Earth’s closest approach to its parent star for the year 2026.
This annual event, known as perihelion, occurs when Earth reaches the nearest point in its slightly elliptical orbit around the Sun. At perihelion, the distance between Earth and the Sun shrinks to about 147 million kilometres, roughly five million kilometres closer than at its farthest point, called aphelion.
Because of this reduced distance, the Sun appears about 3 percent larger in diameter and slightly more intense than usual—making today’s sunrise the “largest” Sun observers will see in 2026. While the difference is subtle and often imperceptible to the naked eye, it is measurable with scientific instruments and noticeable in high-resolution photographs.
Astronomers emphasize that perihelion has no direct link to seasonal changes. Despite Earth being closest to the Sun in early January, the Northern Hemisphere experiences winter due to the tilt of Earth’s axis, not its distance from the Sun. Conversely, the Southern Hemisphere enjoys summer during this period.
Scientists also note that perihelion does not pose any additional risk to Earth. Solar radiation increases only slightly, and global temperatures are unaffected in any significant way.
The phenomenon serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of Earth’s journey through space. For astronomy enthusiasts, today’s event offers an opportunity to appreciate the delicate mechanics of our solar system—though experts caution against looking directly at the Sun without proper eye protection.
As Earth continues its orbit, the Sun will gradually appear smaller over the coming months, reaching its most distant point in early July, before beginning the cycle once again.
