Posted on 07/08/2021 2:06:43 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: Aphelion for 2021 occurred on July 5th. That's the point in Earth's elliptical orbit when it is farthest from the Sun. Of course, the distance from the Sun doesn't determine the seasons. Those are governed by the tilt of Earth's axis of rotation, so July is still summer in the north and winter in the southern hemisphere. But it does mean that on July 5 the Sun was at its smallest apparent size when viewed from planet Earth. This composite neatly compares two pictures of the Sun, both taken with the same telescope and camera. The left half was captured close to the date of the 2021 perihelion (January 2), the closest point in Earth's orbit. The right was recorded just before the aphelion in 2021. Otherwise difficult to notice, the change in the Sun's apparent diameter between perihelion and aphelion amounts to a little over 3 percent.
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.
So does this mean an X class flare from the Sun can reach Earth sooner in December than it can in June?
Though slight, it’s enough of a difference to make some solar eclipses annular, with just a ring of sunlight surrounding the moon. Moon distance relative to the earth affects this also.
Yes. You can use the extra time to put on more sun screen.
I’d put that orange back in the bin at the grocery store.
Egad! The sun is shrinking! We need world socialism NOW!!
Will cause global warming AND global cooling?
Aiyeeee! The sun is SHRINKING! We’re all doooooomed!
LOL I swear I need to read all the posts BEFORE putting my own up! :-)
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