Despite record heat, sun farthest from Earth this week

The sun is at its farthest point from Earth this week.

According to astronomers, the sun's orbit reached what is known as "aphelion" at 12 a.m. ET on Thursday July 5.

Although most people think that the Earth orbits the sun in a perfect circle, it is actually an ellipse.

Space reported that Earth is typically about 93 million miles away from the sun, while at aphelion it is 94.5 million away – 3.28 percent farther.

This means that the sun will appear three percent smaller in the sky – a phenomenon not noticeable without a telescope.

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Though some might think that the sun's distance might affect weather or climate, just the opposite is true.

"Aphelion," when the sun is closest, occured in the dead of winter – January 3. 

This year the closest point was 92,955,807 miles, reported National Geographic.

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