We have recently passed the longest day of the year, June 21, and the day when the earth is furthest from the sun, July 4. According to celestial mechanics the two should align. But they don't, there is a two-week gap between the two dates.
The reason, which I had never seen explained, is that the earth moves faster in it's orbit when it is closer to the sun. The earth turns at a constant rate, 24 hours, but it doesn't move around the sun at a constant rate. The result is what I refer to as the "Solstice Gap".
Here is a link to the original posting:
www.markmeeksideas.blogspot.com/2019/12/the-solstice-gap.html?m=0
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