Perihelion!

So, this morning at 0636 UT the Earth was at its closest point to the Sun for this year. That seems a bit weird, as my garden thermometer says it's only 3 degrees centigrade outside! This is because at its closest the Earth is still 147,096,204 km away, and at its furthest point is only roughly 5 million km farther out - not much of a difference in the astronomical scheme of things! Earth's season's aren't therefore caused by it's distance from the Sun, but by the tilt of the Earth. And currently the Northern hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun and is in winter. Great for long nights and dark skies for observing!