07/06/2023 – Ephemeris – Today the Earth is farther from the Sun than anytime this year
This is Ephemeris for Thursday, July 6th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 26 minutes, setting at 9:30, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:04. The Moon, halfway from full to last quarter, will rise at 12:16 tomorrow morning.
Today, the Sun is at its farthest distance from the Earth. It’s called aphelion. The exact time actually occurred at 4:59 this morning at a distance of 94 and a half million miles away. Because of the gravitational pull of the Moon and planets on the Earth, especially Jupiter and Venus and gravitational pull of the planets, especially Jupiter on the Sun, the aphelion and perihelion, the closest date in January don’t occur on the same date or same distance every year. The date wanders by a day or two each year. The entire distance variation of the Earth from the Sun is plus or minus 1.5 million miles (2.4 million kilometers) over the year, makes summer the longest season by a few days because the Earth moves slower when farther from the Sun, than when it is nearer.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT –4 hours). They may be different for your location.
Note: Apoapsis and Periapsis are generic terms for the farthest and nearest points in an orbit to the central body. For a body orbiting the Sun, it’s aphelion and perihelion. For a satellite of the Earth, it’s apogee and perigee.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 
Hi, Bob! Thanks for doing this blog! Fascinating!
I have a request of the GT Astronomical Society, hoping they can come do some stargazing with us at a gathering benefitting nonprofit Child & Family Services Sept 20. Are you the one to ask?
Thank you!
Hi Tara, I think we can work something out for viewing the skies on September 20. I will bring up the possibility at tomorrow’s (7/07/23) board meeting of the GTAS. As far as what’s visible and when: Sunset will be at 7:44 pm. The Moon will be visible before then, but it’s best to wait until after sunset. It will be fairly low in the southwest. By 8:30 Saturn, with its rings, will be visible in the fairly low in the southeast. By 9 pm it will be dark enough to see some of the wonders beyond the solar system, mostly star clusters, and possibly a nebula or two.
Of course, this can only happen if it’s clear. Two possible alternate programs are PowerPoint like presentations about the two upcoming solar eclipses visible from our area in October this year and April next year, and Stars and Stories of the Autumn Skies.
Keep Looking Up!
Bob
Bob Moler
Grand Traverse Astronomical Society http://www.gtastro.org Stellar Sentinel Editor NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassadors https://solarsystem1.jpl.nasa.gov/ssa/home.cfm Volunteer
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Bob Moler’s Ephemeris weekdays on Interlochen Public Radio (Volunteer)
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Great, Bob! We are in a tent outdoors. I don’t think we can have a slideshow, but would love to do some watching–Saturn and even a nebula! That would be really cool. I hope the Board agrees, and we will hope for a clear night! Thanks so much!