earth is closest to the sun in January when it is winter in the northern hemisphere
how is this possible
This statement is not accurate. The Earth is actually closest to the Sun during the winter in the Southern Hemisphere, around the beginning of January. This phenomenon is called the perihelion.
The Earth's orbit around the Sun is not a perfect circle; it is elliptical. This means that at certain points in its orbit, the Earth is closer to the Sun, while at other points, it is farther away. The point where Earth is closest to the Sun is called the perihelion, whereas the point where it is farthest is called the aphelion.
The tilt of the Earth's axis is what causes the seasons. During winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the Earth's tilt causes the Sun's rays to hit that part of the globe at a lower angle, resulting in colder temperatures. At the same time, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, experiencing summer.
So, while it is true that the Earth is closest to the Sun in early January during the Southern Hemisphere's summer, this does not align with winter in the Northern Hemisphere.