How Far Away Is The Sun?
The Earth orbits the sun at an average distance of 93-million miles (150-million kilometres). That distance is an average because the actual amount of distance between the Earth and sun changes as the Earth orbits the sun. Every object that orbits another object will have an elliptical shaped orbit. Although we may think of orbits as being circular, they are in fact elongated and appear more egg-shaped than circular.
Maximum And Minimum Distance
When a planet is at its closest approach to its star, it is referred to as being at perihelion. For Earth, perihelion is the minimum amount of distance between it and the sun, which is about 91-million miles (147-million kilometres). The furthest distance is referred to as aphelion. When the Earth is at aphelion, it is 94.5-million miles (152-million kilometres) away from the sun. Perihelion and aphelion occur almost exactly six months apart. Perihelion occurs in early January while aphelion occurs in early July. That means that Earth is at its minimum distance during the coldest part of the year, while it is at its maximum distance during the hottest part of the year. Interestingly, it is not the distance between the Earth and sun that determines the seasons, but rather, it is the tilt of Earth’s axis. Although if the Earth were significantly closer or further away from the sun it would impact the Earth’s temperature, the eccentricity of Earth’s orbit is not extreme enough to have a noticeable impact on seasons.
Astronomical Unit
The average distance between the Earth and sun is also called an astronomical unit (AU). Since distances in space can be so vast, astronomers generally simplify units to make calculations easier and so that such large distances are easier to grasp. One astronomical unit is equal to 93-million miles (150-million kilometres). Using miles or kilometres as units usually results in gigantic numbers when dealing with space, and so astronomical units are a simple way of seeing how far away something is. For example, Neptune is 30 astronomical units away from the sun, or 30 times further from the sun than Earth.
Significance For Life On Earth
The distance between the Earth and sun is one of the many factors that has allowed for the origin and evolution of living things on planet Earth. Earth orbits in what is called the habitable zone, which is the region around the sun where temperatures are neither too warm nor too cold. Although orbiting in the habitable zone does not guarantee a planet will become habitable, it allows for the potential for habitable conditions to develop. Basically, the habitable zone is a measure of potential. A planet in the habitable zone will have the potential to develop and hold onto a significant atmosphere, which can help stabilize temperatures and allow for the existence of liquid water on the surface.
