Lesser Heat coincides with appearance of this year's "smallest sun" in sky

A drone photo taken on July 7, 2026 shows the sun over the sky in Shuangyashan City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Lesser Heat, or Xiaoshu, one of China's 24 solar terms, fell on Tuesday this year, coinciding with the appearance of the year's "smallest sun" in the sky.

The Earth passed aphelion on Tuesday, the point in its orbit when it is farthest from the sun, making the sun's apparent diameter the smallest of the year. (Photo by Han Yang/Xinhua)

This photo taken on July 7, 2026 shows the sun over the sky in Fujin City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Lesser Heat, or Xiaoshu, one of China's 24 solar terms, fell on Tuesday this year, coinciding with the appearance of the year's "smallest sun" in the sky.

The Earth passed aphelion on Tuesday, the point in its orbit when it is farthest from the sun, making the sun's apparent diameter the smallest of the year. (Photo by Qu Yubao/Xinhua)

This photo taken on July 7, 2026 shows the sun over the sky in Qiqihar City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Lesser Heat, or Xiaoshu, one of China's 24 solar terms, fell on Tuesday this year, coinciding with the appearance of the year's "smallest sun" in the sky.

The Earth passed aphelion on Tuesday, the point in its orbit when it is farthest from the sun, making the sun's apparent diameter the smallest of the year. (Photo by Wang Yonggang/Xinhua)

A drone photo taken on July 7, 2026 shows the sun over the sky in Tongjiang City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Lesser Heat, or Xiaoshu, one of China's 24 solar terms, fell on Tuesday this year, coinciding with the appearance of the year's "smallest sun" in the sky.

The Earth passed aphelion on Tuesday, the point in its orbit when it is farthest from the sun, making the sun's apparent diameter the smallest of the year. (Photo by Liu Wanping/Xinhua)

This photo taken on July 7, 2026 shows the sun over the sky in Qiqihar City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Lesser Heat, or Xiaoshu, one of China's 24 solar terms, fell on Tuesday this year, coinciding with the appearance of the year's "smallest sun" in the sky.

The Earth passed aphelion on Tuesday, the point in its orbit when it is farthest from the sun, making the sun's apparent diameter the smallest of the year. (Photo by Wang Yonggang/Xinhua)

This photo taken on July 7, 2026 shows the sun over the sky in Tongjiang City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Lesser Heat, or Xiaoshu, one of China's 24 solar terms, fell on Tuesday this year, coinciding with the appearance of the year's "smallest sun" in the sky.

The Earth passed aphelion on Tuesday, the point in its orbit when it is farthest from the sun, making the sun's apparent diameter the smallest of the year. (Photo by Liu Wanping/Xinhua)

A drone photo taken on July 7, 2026 shows the sunrise over the sea of clouds in Tongjiang City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Lesser Heat, or Xiaoshu, one of China's 24 solar terms, fell on Tuesday this year, coinciding with the appearance of the year's "smallest sun" in the sky.

The Earth passed aphelion on Tuesday, the point in its orbit when it is farthest from the sun, making the sun's apparent diameter the smallest of the year. (Photo by Li Wenbin/Xinhua)

A drone photo taken on July 7, 2026 shows the sun over the sky in Fujin City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Lesser Heat, or Xiaoshu, one of China's 24 solar terms, fell on Tuesday this year, coinciding with the appearance of the year's "smallest sun" in the sky.

The Earth passed aphelion on Tuesday, the point in its orbit when it is farthest from the sun, making the sun's apparent diameter the smallest of the year. (Photo by Qu Yubao/Xinhua)

This photo taken on July 7, 2026 shows the sun over the sky in Tongjiang City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Lesser Heat, or Xiaoshu, one of China's 24 solar terms, fell on Tuesday this year, coinciding with the appearance of the year's "smallest sun" in the sky.

The Earth passed aphelion on Tuesday, the point in its orbit when it is farthest from the sun, making the sun's apparent diameter the smallest of the year. (Photo by Liu Wanping/Xinhua)

This photo taken on July 7, 2026 shows the sun in the clouds over the sky in Jiayin County, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Lesser Heat, or Xiaoshu, one of China's 24 solar terms, fell on Tuesday this year, coinciding with the appearance of the year's "smallest sun" in the sky.

The Earth passed aphelion on Tuesday, the point in its orbit when it is farthest from the sun, making the sun's apparent diameter the smallest of the year. (Photo by Li Shaojun/Xinhua)