Live Earth Distance from the Sun

Earth–Sun Distance Variation

The distance between the Earth and the Sun does not remain constant. Due to our planet's elliptical orbit, it varies throughout the year. These subtle fluctuations occurring in space affect orbital mechanics. They also depends how solar energy is absorbed.

Perihelion and Aphelion: At perihelion (early January), Earth is closest to the Sun, around 147.1 million km. At aphelion (early July), it reaches its farthest position, about 152.1 million km.
High-Precision VSOP87 Model: Our live calculator uses the VSOP87 planetary theory for sub-kilometer accuracy, matching professional observatory data.
Light Travel Time Correction: The "Apparent" distance accounts for the ~8 minutes it takes light to travel from the Sun to Earth, matching what you see in the sky.
Earth-Moon Barycenter: Our calculations account for the Moon's gravitational effect, which shifts Earth's position by up to 4,671 km.
Solar Energy Variations: The difference directly affects how much solar energy reaches Earth. While the solar constant at 1 AU is about 1361 W/m², it varies by roughly 6.5% over the year.

Therefore, it is a subject of immense significance in our astronomy, space missions, and climate science. Our dynamic visualizer presented above transforms abstract orbital mechanics into a tangible and vivid cosmic map.

Planet	Diameter (km)	Surface Gravity (m/s²)	Number of Moons	Orbital Period
Mercury	4,880	3.70	0	88 Days
Venus	12,104	8.87	0	225 Days
Earth	12,742	9.81	1	365.25 Days
Mars	6,779	3.71	2	1.88 Years
Jupiter	139,820	24.79	95	11.86 Years
Saturn	116,460	10.44	146	29.45 Years
Uranus	50,724	8.69	28	84.02 Years
Neptune	49,244	11.15	16	164.80 Years

FAQs

1 What is the closest planet to the Earth right now?

Venus is currently the planet closest to Earth, although Mercury sometimes takes this position for a short period. Due to orbital mechanics, Venus comes within a range of around 38 million kilometers of Earth-closer than any other planet. However, since both planets orbit at different speeds, the distance between them is constantly changing.

2 What is the order of the 8 planets?

The planets of our solar system, from the closest to the Sun to the farthest, are as follows:

Mercury: 0.387 AU
Venus: 0.723 AU
Earth: 1.000 AU
Mars: 1.524 AU
Jupiter: 5.204 AU
Saturn: 9.583 AU
Uranus: 19.20 AU
Neptune: 30.05 AU

3 How many light seconds away is the Moon?

The Moon is located around 1.28 light-seconds away from Earth. This is because light travels at a speed of 186,282 miles per second, and the distance between Earth and the Moon is 238,855 miles.

4 Could Earth survive without Jupiter?

Not at all, because Jupiter acts like a shield for the solar system. The gravitational force of Jupiter either pulls comets and asteroids toward itself or deflects them away. Without Jupiter, Earth would have faced a constant barrage of meteoroids. Such frequent collisions would have made the survival of life extremely difficult.

Furthermore, Jupiter's gravity helped shape the early asteroid belt, and may also have played a role in delivering water to the early Earth.

Live Earth distance from the Sun

Live Solar System Map