Earth orbits the Sun at an average speed of about 67,000 miles per hour (approximately 30 kilometers per second). This speed allows Earth to complete one full orbit around the Sun in roughly 365.25 days, traveling a total distance of about 584 million miles (940 million kilometers) annually
. The orbit is slightly elliptical, so Earth's speed varies slightly during the year-it's fastest at perihelion (closest to the Sun) at about 30 km/s and slowest at aphelion (farthest from the Sun) at about 29 km/s
. This orbital velocity is sufficient to keep Earth in a stable orbit due to the balance between gravitational pull and the planet's inertia. In summary:
- Average orbital speed: ~67,000 mph (30 km/s)
- Orbital period: ~365.25 days
- Orbit shape: Slightly elliptical
- Speed variation: ~29 km/s to 30 km/s depending on position in orbit
This orbital motion, combined with Earth's daily rotation, defines much of the planet's environmental and astronomical dynamics
