On Friday, July 5, at 08:06 Moscow time, Earth will be about 52,094,000 kilometers away from the Sun, placing it at a distant point in its orbit. This detail comes from observations shared by astronomers and officials at the Moscow Planetarium, including Lyudmila Koshman, who heads the department of methodological support. The expert notes that Earth travels along an elliptical path, meaning its distance from the Sun varies over the year and affects the planet in subtle ways that science can measure over time.
According to Koshman, the Sun will appear, for a short period, with its smallest apparent diameter from Earth. Yet this change in disk size will progress gradually across roughly six months, so the difference will not be noticeable to the naked eye. The overall brightness and the solar disk’s apparent size change slowly as the Earth completes its orbit, underscoring the steadiness of our day-to-day sky while reminding observers of celestial mechanics in action.
The expert emphasized that this orbital variation has no direct influence on Earth’s weather or geomagnetic conditions. Seasonal patterns, climate fluctuations, and magnetic activity are driven by a range of factors that operate on different timescales, and the occasional subtle shift in the Sun’s apparent size does not produce abrupt earthly effects.
Earlier, the Space.com portal, citing solar physicists, reported that the Sun is approaching a transition in its magnetic poles. This shift marks a stage in the star’s 11-year cycle, a rhythm that governs periods of higher and lower solar activity. When magnetic poles flip, the Sun’s overall magnetic field weakens temporarily, which can influence the intensity of solar storms and the flow of charged particles toward the inner solar system.
Typically, the full magnetic transition unfolds over one to two years, though there have been occasions when it stretched to as long as five years, as observed during the late 2010s. This extended phase does not constitute a sudden change but rather a slow evolution of the Sun’s magnetic structure, with wider implications for space weather and satellite operations, as well as the auroras visible at high latitudes during clear nights.
Meanwhile, the origin of earthquakes on Earth draws continued scientific interest. Researchers examine tectonic plate movements, stress accumulation, and the release of energy that manifests as ground shaking. While many factors contribute to seismic events, understanding the patterns of crustal deformation helps scientists assess risk in different regions and refine early-warning techniques that can save lives and reduce damage when quakes occur.