Published on July 3, 2025 at 4:48 p.m.
Do you know this phenomenon that occurs today? The aphelia is this moment when the earth is at the point furthest from the sun. What is special is that this moment occurs in the middle of summer, when it is hot … but we are further from the sun! Explanations.
A very special moment
Surprise: our planet goes to the aphelia today, around 3:54 p.m.! What exactly means? That the earth is then to the point the farther of the sun. More specifically, there is a distance of around 152 million kilometers with the sun.
Note that at its opposite, we find the perihelion (at a distance of around 147 million kilometers). This is when the earth is closest to the sun in its orbit. This year, this small event occurred on January 4, at 8:28 a.m. on Saturday morning.
The aphelia occurs after the summer solstice when, for its part, the perihelion follows the winter solstice. In the northern hemisphere, astronomical summer lasts on average 93.6 days. On the other hand, astronomical winter is the shortest season of the year with its 89 -day average.
Warm … or colder?
You might think that the aphelia would make sure to offer us colder time and there are few takers for this type of temperature in summer! Indeed, when the earth is further from the sun, we would normally think that temperatures should be colder … After all, we know that it is the sun that warms the earth! Interesting and contradictory fact: this is not at all the case.
For what? “The axis of rotation of the earth is tilted compared to its orbit around the sun. It is not perpendicular. Thus, North America and also Quebec are found with direct sunlight during the summer season. This is why it is much hotter in summer than in winter, ”explains Bertin Ossonon, meteorologist.
Moreover, in Montreal on this Thursday, there are 24 ° (the average is 26.5 ° for a July 3 in the metropolis). It is a completely summer self -respecting mercury and appreciates!
