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Earth Hits Aphelion, Still Sizzles at 103 °F

7/7/2026

Summary

Story summary

Earth reached aphelion on July 6, 2026, placing it 94.5 million miles (152,087,774 km) from the Sun.
NASA Ambassador Tony Rice said Earth’s orbital speed slowed by about 2,240 mph from January and that average global temperature at aphelion is roughly 4 °F (2.3 °C) higher than at perihelion, per NASA scientist Roy Spencer.
Because the 23.5-degree axial tilt kept the northern hemisphere sunward, the Triangle and Fayetteville recorded 103 °F and 102 °F respectively on July 4-5.

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Story summary

Earth reached aphelion on July 6, 2026, placing it 94.5 million miles (152,087,774 km) from the Sun.
NASA Ambassador Tony Rice said Earth’s orbital speed slowed by about 2,240 mph from January and that average global temperature at aphelion is roughly 4 °F (2.3 °C) higher than at perihelion, per NASA scientist Roy Spencer.
Because the 23.5-degree axial tilt kept the northern hemisphere sunward, the Triangle and Fayetteville recorded 103 °F and 102 °F respectively on July 4-5.