aphelion

American  

[uh-fee-lee-uhn, uh-feel-yuhn, ap-hee-lee-uhn] / əˈfi li ən, əˈfil jən, æpˈhi li ən /

noun

aphelia plural

1. Astronomy. the point in the orbit of a planet or a comet at which it is farthest from the sun.

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aphelion British  

/ əˈfiː-, æpˈhiːlɪən /

noun

1. the point in its orbit when a planet or comet is at its greatest distance from the sun Compare perihelion

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aphelion Scientific  

/ ə-fē′lē-ən /

1. The point at which an orbiting body, such as a planet or comet, is farthest away from the Sun.

2. Compare apogee perihelion

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• aphelian
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• aphelia
  plural

Etymology

Origin of aphelion

1650–60; Hellenized form of New Latin aphēlium < Greek *aphḗlion ( diástēma ) off-sun (distance), neuter of *aphḗlios (adj.), equivalent to ap- ap- ² + hḗli ( os ) sun + -os adj. suffix. See apogee

Compare meaning

How does aphelion compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• aphelion vs. perihelion

Example Sentences

Aphelion, the point in an orbit farthest from the sun.

From Recreations in Astronomy With Directions for Practical Experiments and Telescopic Work by Warren, Henry White

Aphelion, that point of a planet's or comet's orbit which is most distant from the sun.

From A Manual of the Antiquity of Man by MacLean, J. P. (John Patterson)