On which date is the Earth closest to the Sun?

The Earth is closest to the Sun during a point in its orbit called perihelion. This event occurs around January 3rd each year. During this time, the Earth's orbit brings it significantly nearer to the Sun compared to other points in its elliptical path.

In contrast, the other dates listed do not align with perihelion. For instance, June 21st is typically around the time of the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, which is when the Sun is at its highest point in the sky, but it does not reflect the Earth's proximity to the Sun. Similarly, January 1st is close to perihelion but does not represent the exact date, and July 4th marks a time when the Earth is actually farther from the Sun, a period known as aphelion. Thus, January 3rd is the date where the proximity of the Earth to the Sun is greatest each year.