The month in which the Earth makes its closest approach to the Sun is known as the _____, which varies on a 19,000 year cycle.

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The month in which the Earth makes its closest approach to the Sun is known as perihelion. The Earth's orbit around the Sun is not perfectly circular, but rather elliptical, which means that the distance between the Earth and the Sun varies throughout the year. Perihelion occurs about two weeks after the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, and it varies on a 19,000 year cycle due to the combined effects of precession and changes in the tilt and eccentricity of the Earth's orbit.

The Month in Which the Earth Makes Its Closest Approach