Sun-Earth Distance

Wanting to verify the results of a school experiment, David Underwood of Chena Hot Springs Road has called in to ask how far away the sun is in January. The average distance to the sun is 92,900,000 miles (149,476,000 kilometers). Through the year the distance varies, it is closest in January and farthest in early July, 91,400,000 and 94,400,000 miles, respectively. The differing distance through the year does make a small annual variation in the amount of heat the earth receives.