Aphelion

Today is the Aphelion - the astronomical term for when the earth is the farthest distance from the sun that it can possibly get.

That's 94,505,009 miles, in case you're counting.

Perihelion

Today the earth is at perihelion, which is the closest it will ever get to the sun this year. That's only 91,400,936 miles. Break out the sunblock.

Aphelion will come on July 3rd, when the earth will be at its farthest distance from the sun - a mere 94,505,009 miles away.

Perihelion

Today the earth is as close to the sun as it will get this year, a measly 91,401,587 miles away. Aphelion will occur on July 4th, 2008, when the earth will be the farthest distance possible away from the sun - only 94,513,190 miles.

94,508,728

You astronomy buffs out there will no doubt know that's the distance the earth is today from the sun (in miles)- the farthest away we'll ever get this year. The technical term is APHELION, for those of us non astronomy buffs, like yours truly. This time us northern hemisphere types have the favorable warm weather angle.

You can figure out what that works out to be in kilometers, if you're so inclined. I'm certainly not.

The opposite, PERIHELION, was on January 3, 2007.

Summer Solstice 2007

Today at 14:06 EDT marks the official beginning of Summer here in the Eastern United States and at various times today all throughout the Northern Hemisphere.

This is my absolute favorite season of the year. I love the heat and all of the outdoor activities that go with it. Cooking on the grill, eating outside, campfires, toasted marshmallows, going to baseball games, swimming or just sitting on the deck by the pool (as I am now) and even sitting on the beach by the lake or ocean.

It's all good in my opinion.

Even thumbles of runder and lashes of frightening.

Except for the skeeters. Hate them lousy skeeters.

Happy First Day of Summer everyone!!!!

Woo-hoo!!!!!!