Earth at seasonal points in its orbit (not to scale). Earth orbit (yellow) compared to a circle (gray). Earth orbits theSun at an average distance of 149.60 million km (92.96 million mi), or 8.317 light-minutes,[1] in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from above the Northern Hemisphere. The rare few who donate do so because Wikipedia provides them with useful knowledge. If that sounds like you, please donate $2.75. Any contribution you make today helps. The planets today shows you where the planets are now as a live display - a free online orrery. In this solar system map you can see the planetary positions from 3000 BCE to 3000 CE, and also see when each planet is in retrograde. theSun rising over Earth from the International Space Station.Every 230 million years, thesun—and the solar system it carries with it—makes one orbit around the Milky Way's center. Though we can't feel it, thesun traces its orbit at an average velocity of 450,000 miles an hour. Howfaraway it is: 93 million miles (150 million km).5 fast facts about thesun. Over 1 million Earths could fit inside thesun. Thesun may look yellow fromEarth, but it actually releases every color of light, meaning its true color is white . HowtheSun drives space weather, affects life on Earth, and why we study it.If an intense storm hit Earth, it could damage satellites, power grids, and communication networks. We study theSun to learn about how stars work, and to help protect our civilization from solar storms.