Perihelion and aphelion

Surely they have ever explained to you the reason for the seasons. The different movements of the earth they cause temperatures and other meteorological and climatic variables to change and modify the seasons of the year. During the translational motion of the Earth around the Sun, it has several important points that cause the summer and winter solstices. Those points are the perihelion and the aphelion.

In this article we are going to present the different functions that aphelion and perihelion have in vital processes for the planet. Do you want to know more about it?

Earth balance

The translational movement of the Earth occurs at the same time as the rotation. That is, as the days and nights take place, the Earth moves along its orbit in the Solar system up to a complete circle around the Sun. As we already know, this return takes about 365 days, which is a calendar year for us.

During this translational movement, the Earth passes through several key points that help the earth's balance. These are the perihelion and aphelion. These two points are responsible for establishing an exact balance in a natural development that is of vital importance for the planet.

The first point that we will define will be the aphelion. This is the point where the Earth is at the greatest distance from the Sun. It is common sense to think that, being located at a greater distance, we will have less heat and, therefore, this will happen in the winter season . However, it is quite the opposite. When the Earth passes through the aphelion, the speed at which it travels is the slowest and the sun's rays arrive more perpendicular to the Earth. This is the cause of Summer Solstice.

On the contrary, when the Earth is in perihelion, it is when it is in a position closer to the Sun and its speed is increased. Its maximum speed of translational movement occurs at perihelion. During this point the Winter Solstice and the reason it is colder is the inclination with which the sun's rays reach the northern hemisphere.

Perihelion and aphelion processes

The basic function of these two points is to establish a balance of temperatures that allows heat and cold to rotate throughout the year. The terrestrial energy balance is key to maintaining the functionality of ecosystems and ecological balance. If we were always accumulating heat, temperatures would not stop rising and the planet would become uninhabitable. The same thing happened if it is just the opposite.

Therefore, the presence of those points that establish the before and after in the fluctuations of various terrestrial variables is necessary. The aphelion is considered the elemental point where the speed of translation of the planet is the minimum. The aphelion takes place around the 4th of July. Chen the Earth is located at this point it is 152.10 million kilometers from the Sun.

On the contrary, when the Earth is in perihelion, a process that takes place around January 4, that is when it will be closer to the Sun. It is here that it is located 147.09 million kilometers away. Although in this situation we are further from the Sun, it does not mean that it is colder. As the Earth has an axis of inclination of 23 °, the same seasons do not always occur. In the northern hemisphere, winter occurs in the months of December, January and February. However, in the southern hemisphere it occurs in the months of June, July and August.

That is to say, the months that for us are hot, for the countries of the southern hemisphere are cold. This is due to the inclination with which the sun's rays index on the earth's surface. The more inclined, the colder.

Kepler's Laws

Thanks to Kepler's laws the function of these points in the Earth's orbit can be explained. Johannes Kepler was a German astronomer that gave rise to a series of laws that would facilitate the understanding of the movement of the planets. He performed various calculations that showed the trajectories and the discrepancies between them.

These laws have been of great help and explain in depth many of the important bases in the processes that take place during perihelion and aphelion. We are going to analyze Kepler's three laws.

1st Law, elliptical orbits

The orbits of the planets of the Solar System have an elliptical shape. Therefore, there are these two points that mark the maximum and minimum distance of a planet with respect to the Sun.

2nd Law, Law of the Areas

This law refers to the orbital speed of a planet. It presents variations that have to do with the distance from the Sun. The speed is maximum at perihelion and minimum at aphelion. When a planet passes through the farthest point from the Sun, it loses its ability to move because the pull of gravity is less. However, that same translational movement is pronounced as the proximity of the Sun is greater.

All this has an impact on the duration of the days and nights and the time it takes to reduce in one stage and another.

3rd Law, Harmonic Law

This law takes into account the periods of the sidereal orbits of the planets. It is where the proportions of the average distances to the Sun are established. That is, the sidereal period of a planet is measured relative to the stars and is quantified by the time elapsed between successive passages of the Sun by means of a kind of meridian that is established by a star.

As you can see, these points are very important for the balance of the Earth and the seasons of the year. I hope that with this information you can learn more about aphelion and perihelion.