On what date is the Earth closest to the sun?

The Earth is closest to the sun at a point in its orbit called perihelion. This event occurs annually around early January, typically around January 3rd. During perihelion, the distance between the Earth and the sun is at its minimum, allowing for slightly more solar energy to reach the Earth at that time.

In contrast, aphelion, which is when the Earth is farthest from the sun, takes place in early July and is characterized by a greater distance between the two. The winter and summer solstices mark significant points in the Earth's tilt and the lengths of daylight but are not related to the distance from the sun. Therefore, understanding the positions of the Earth in its orbit and how they influence distance from the sun clarifies why perihelion is the correct answer.