The Earth travels around the Sun at an average orbital speed of about 29.78 kilometers per second (km/s), which is approximately 107,208 kilometers per hour (km/h) or 66,616 miles per hour (mph)
. This speed allows the Earth to complete one full orbit around the Sun, covering roughly 940 million kilometers (584 million miles) in about 365.256 days (one sidereal year)
. Because Earth's orbit is slightly elliptical, its orbital speed is not constant. The Earth moves faster when it is closer to the Sun at perihelion (around early January), reaching a maximum speed of about 30.3 km/s, and slower when it is farther at aphelion (around early July), with a minimum speed near 29.3 km/s
. This variation is explained by Kepler's laws of planetary motion. In summary:
- Average orbital speed: ~29.78 km/s (107,208 km/h or 66,616 mph)
- Maximum speed at perihelion: ~30.3 km/s
- Minimum speed at aphelion: ~29.3 km/s
- Orbit duration: ~365.256 days
This speed is fast enough to cover the Earth's diameter in about 7 minutes and the distance to the Moon in about 4 hours
