Perihelion (Noun)
Meaning
Periapsis in solar orbit; the point in the orbit of a planet or comet where it is nearest to the sun.
Classification
Nouns denoting spatial position.
Examples
- The planet's perihelion occurs late in January, when it is approximately 47 million miles from the sun.
- During perihelion, the comet's surface temperature increases due to the intense radiation from the sun.
- The spacecraft's trajectory was carefully planned to take advantage of the reduced distance at perihelion, allowing for a gravity assist maneuver.
- As a result of its highly eccentric orbit, the dwarf planet's perihelion is much closer to the sun than its aphelion.
- When the asteroid passed perihelion, its closest approach to the sun was just 90 million kilometers, putting it well within the orbit of Venus.