Fact Check: Does the Aphelion Phenomenon Really Cause Colder Weather on Earth?

Meanwhile, social media posts claim that a phenomenon called 'Aphelion,' occurring now through August 22, will make Earth experience unusually cold weather. Some posts incorrectly state that the usual distance from the Sun is 90 million km, and that during Aphelion, it increases by 66% to 152 million km. This message has gone viral on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.

Here is the screenshot of the viral message.

Here is the screenshot of the WhatsApp message. 

Here is the archive link of the claim.

Fact check:

The claim is False. The aphelion phenomenon does not cause temperatures to be lower than normal.

According to an article published in Forbes, July 3, 2025, Aphelion day was. On Aphelion day, Earth at aphelion, the point in its orbit at which it is farthest from the sun. That means less radiation from the sun, which will look its smallest in the sky in 2025. Earth orbits the sun in a slight ellipse, an egg shape. There's a point when it's farthest from the sun (aphelion) and when it's closest to the sun (perihelion).

According to an article published in Capeargus, at Aphelion, Earth is about 152 million kilometres away from the Sun, as compared to its closest point—called Perihelion—when Earth is about 147 million kilometres away. The difference is relatively small and doesn’t significantly affect the amount of solar radiation the Earth receives. The key factor responsible for the seasons is Earth's axial tilt. Earth’s axis is tilted by about 23.5 degrees relative to its orbit around the Sun. This tilt means that different parts of the planet receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year, creating the distinct seasons. In the Southern Hemisphere, summer occurs around December when the Southern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun. Winter happens around June when it is tilted away. Those living in the Northern Hemisphere find that the opposite is true, with summer happening in June and winter in December. The variation in Earth’s distance from the Sun during Aphelion and Perihelion has a minimal effect on temperatures or seasons. What really drives the temperature changes we experience is the angle at which sunlight hits the Earth's surface—something determined by the tilt, not the distance.

According to The New York Times, A common misconception is that Earth’s varying distance from the sun is what gives rise to the seasons. It does have a small impact: We get 7 percent less sunlight at aphelion compared with the amount we are exposed to at perihelion, leading to slightly milder summers and winters in the Northern Hemisphere. But that effect is offset by Earth’s tilt on its axis, meaning that at different points along its orbit, the hemispheres slant either toward or away from the sun. At aphelion, which occurs just weeks after a solstice, the northern half of the planet is leaning toward the sun, resulting in the longer, hotter days of summer even though Earth is farther away. And at perihelion in January, the Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the sun, making the days shorter and the temperatures colder.

A video explaining the Aphelion phenomenon is also available.

Full View

This message has been doing the rounds since 2022, and several fact-check organisations debunked the claim. But still, the message is going viral again this year. Here are the links to some fact checks done previously.

Therefore, the viral claim that the Aphelion phenomenon is causing temperatures to be lower than normal is False. This phenomenon has nothing to do with the temperatures; the tilt of the Earth actually influences the weather conditions.