In early January 2026, Earth will reach perihelion, the point in its orbit when it is closest to the Sun during the year. This astronomical event will make the Sun’s apparent disk reach its maximum visible size. The Moscow Planetarium reported that on January 3 the distance between the centers of Earth and the Sun will be about 147,099,586 kilometers, and the Sun’s angular diameter will reach roughly 32 minutes and 35 arcseconds.

Why the Sun Appears Larger in Winter

Earth’s orbit around the Sun is not a perfect circle but an ellipse with an eccentricity of about 0.0167. At perihelion, Earth is roughly 5 million kilometers closer to the Sun than it is at aphelion in July. This increases the Sun’s apparent angular diameter by about 3 to 7 percent, a difference that is clearly visible in astronomical photographs, where the January solar disk looks noticeably larger.

Despite this, there is no increase in warmth. In winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the Sun remains low above the horizon, and its rays pass through a thicker layer of the atmosphere, where they are scattered more strongly. The primary cause of the seasons is the 23.5 degree tilt of Earth’s axis, not the ellipticity of its orbit.

Other Astronomical Events in January and Early Spring

January offers several notable celestial events. In the first days of the month, the Quadrantid meteor shower is expected to reach its peak, and on January 10 Jupiter will be at great opposition, appearing especially bright and large in the sky.

Astronomical spring in the Northern Hemisphere will begin on March 20, 2026, at the moment of the vernal equinox, around 17:46 Moscow time. At that point, the Sun will cross the celestial equator into the Northern Hemisphere, and day and night will be approximately equal in length across the planet. In the Southern Hemisphere, this moment will mark the autumnal equinox.

A January sunrise is considered a particularly striking time to observe the Sun’s larger apparent disk, especially in high latitudes.

How to Observe Safely

On January 3, the Sun will rise bright and visually large, but looking at it directly is extremely dangerous for the eyes. Only certified solar filters, specialized telescopes, or projection methods should be used. The Moscow Planetarium has advised taking photographs and comparing them with images from July, as the difference in the Sun’s apparent size will be especially clear.

In Brief

On January 3, 2026, Earth will pass through perihelion, reaching its minimum distance from the Sun at about 147 million kilometers, making the Sun’s apparent disk the largest of the year at roughly 32 minutes and 35 arcseconds. The difference compared with aphelion is visible in photographs but does not affect winter weather, as the seasons are determined by Earth’s axial tilt. The vernal equinox will occur on March 20. January is an excellent time to observe the larger Sun, meteor showers, and Jupiter, but always with proper eye protection.