The average distance from the Earth to the Sun is 149.60 million kilometers (92.96 million miles). This distance is called an astronomical unit (AU). It is used to measure the distances to other planets and stars.The Earth's orbit around the Sun is not a perfect circle. It is actually an ellipse, which means that the Earth's distance from the Sun varies throughout the year. The Earth's closest approach to the Sun is called perihelion, which occurs in January. The Earth's farthest distance from the Sun is called aphelion, which occurs in July.The Earth's orbit around the Sun takes 365.256 days to complete. This is why we have leap years every four years.The Sun is a star, which is a giant ball of hot gas. The Sun is made up of hydrogen and helium. The Sun's gravity holds the Earth in orbit around it. The Sun's heat and light make life on Earth possible.