On July 6, Earth will pass the farthest point from the Sun in its orbit. As reported by TASS at the Moscow Planetarium, the distance between the planet and the star will exceed 152 million kilometers, and the visible diameter of the solar disk will become the smallest of the year. Compared to January, when the maximum approach occurs, the disk will lose about 3%.
Astronomers warn: it is almost impossible to notice the difference with the naked eye — it is only recorded when comparing professional photographs. At the same time, any observations of the Sun, including photography, require the mandatory use of a special protective filter, otherwise there is a high risk of retinal burn.
Aphelion is the farthest point of the Earth's orbit from the Sun. Earth moves around the star not in a perfect circle, but in a slightly elongated ellipse, so twice a year it is at different distances from the luminary. The closest point (perihelion) occurs in early January, the farthest (aphelion) — in early July. The difference is about five million kilometers. At the same time, the change of seasons does not depend on the distance to the Sun, but on the tilt of the Earth's axis.