<p>The radio source <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagittarius_A*" rel="noreferrer">Sgr A*</a> is at RA 17h46m Dec -29&deg;, or about 6&deg; south of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecliptic" rel="noreferrer">ecliptic</a> at longitude 267&deg;.
The Sun appears most nearly opposite that position, ecliptic longitude 87&deg;, about three days before the June solstice.
At that time of year, the brightest part of the Milky Way is highest in the sky around local solar midnight.</p>

<p>However, the distance from here to Sgr A* is about 7.9 kpc or 1.6 billion <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomical_unit" rel="noreferrer">au</a>.
The Earth is only infinitesimally closer to the galactic center in June than in December.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-26T16:59:52.150Z
2019-03-26T16:59:52.150Z
Mike G
<p>Given the orbit of the Earth around the Sun and the position of the Sun in the Galaxy, in which season are we (the Earth) closer to the galactic center?</p>

<orbit><milky-way>
Earth orbit around the Sun and its position in the Galaxy
Michele
# Earth orbit around the Sun and its position in the Galaxy

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-03-26)

Given the orbit of the Earth around the Sun and the position of the Sun in the Galaxy, in which season are we (the Earth) closer to the galactic center?

**Tags:** orbit, milky-way

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-03-26. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

The radio source [Sgr A\*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagittarius_A*) is at RA 17h46m Dec -29°, or about 6° south of the [ecliptic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecliptic) at longitude 267°.
The Sun appears most nearly opposite that position, ecliptic longitude 87°, about three days before the June solstice.
At that time of year, the brightest part of the Milky Way is highest in the sky around local solar midnight.

However, the distance from here to Sgr A\* is about 7.9 kpc or 1.6 billion [au](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomical_unit).
The Earth is only infinitesimally closer to the galactic center in June than in December.


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