On 5th
July 2012 at 8.45 a.m. celestial event of “Earth in Aphelion” will occur
involving Sun & Earth. Planet Earth will be at farthest point it can get to
sun this year in its elliptical orbit around Sun at 1.017 AU (152 Million km approx) from Sun.
Astronomically this is phenomena is known as “Aphelion”. Whereas on 5rd January 2012 Planet Earth it was at
closest point (Perihelion) to Sun at
0.983 AU (147 million km).
Belief & Ignorance: Generally
people think that its distance of Earth from Sun which determines if it is Hot
or Cold temperatures. Whereas the truth is Tilt of Earth as it rotates on its
axis at 23.4 Degrees is responsible for Seasons.
For example:
In January Month when Earth was close to Sun in India the temperatures were
cold. Whereas when Earth is far from Sun say in months of May to July compared
to January it was Summer and now followed by winter. Hence facing of earth towards and away from
Sun due to its tilt at 23.4 Degrees is responsible.
What is Aphelion & Perihelion?
Earth revolves around sun in a elliptical orbit. So at
one point of time during its journey around sun it will be at closest point it
can get (perihelion) and one point of time during the year it would be at
farthest point (aphelion).
How Earth Axial Tilt 23.4 Degress contributes to be Reason for Changing Seasons ?
The
Earth’s axis is tilted 23.5 degrees away from the plane of the ecliptic.
In other words at it rotates
on it axis at one point in the Earth’s orbit, the north pole of the Earth is
pointed towards the Sun. This is summer for the northern hemisphere. And then 6
months later, when the Earth is at the opposite side of its orbit, the North
Pole is pointed away from the Sun; that’s winter in the north, and summer in
the south hemisphere.
