According
to Kepler's Second Law, the line connecting the Earth and the Sun
sweeps out equal areas in equal times, causing the Earth to move faster
when closer to the Sun and slower when farther away (Law of Equal
Areas).
The
Earth is furthest from the Sun and moves slowest at Aphelion, which
occurs about two weeks after the June Solstice, around July 3-5, when
the Earth is 180° away from Perihelion. Perihelion, when the Earth is
closest to the Sun and moves fastest, occurs around January 3-4, about
two weeks after the December Solstice.
In 2025, Perihelion in New York
City will occur on Saturday, January 4, at 8:28 a.m. EST, a day before
the "Slight or Minor Cold" Chinese solar term (小寒) on Sunday, January 5, and when the short-term trend in US stock market seasonality typically changes. Both Friday, January 3, and Saturday, January 4, are Cosmic Cluster Days.