On January 3, 2026, at 17:15 UTC (12:15 p.m. EST), Earth reached its annual perihelion, the point in its elliptical orbit where it is closest to the Sun. This event, happening roughly two weeks after the December solstice, saw our planet approximately 91.4 million miles (147.1 million km) from the Sun, which is about 3 million miles closer than its farthest point, aphelion, in July. The article correctly addresses the common misconception that being closer to the Sun should result in warmer temperatures. Instead, Earth's seasons are primarily caused by the planet's axial tilt of approximately 23.5 degrees relative to its orbital plane. During January, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, causing sunlight to strike its surface at a lower, less direct angle, spreading the energy over a larger area and leading to colder winter temperatures and shorter days. Conversely, the Southern Hemisphere experiences summer at this time due to its tilt towards the Sun, receiving more direct sunlight. Credible sources like National Geographic, EarthSky, and NASA Space Place corroborate these scientific facts, emphasizing that the change in distance from the Sun has a negligible effect on global temperatures compared to the axial tilt. Furthermore, early January 2026 also featured a "rare alignment" where the year's first full moon, a supermoon, coincided with Earth's perihelion, making it a notable celestial event. This news piece serves as an important educational clarification for audiences worldwide, including India, explaining fundamental astronomical principles.