aphelion
Americannoun
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aphelia
plural
noun
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The point at which an orbiting body, such as a planet or comet, is farthest away from the Sun.
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Compare apogee perihelion
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Derived Forms
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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
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Earth reaches aphelion July 3, the most distant spot on its imperfect, annual orbit around the sun.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 1, 2017
Satellites circling Mars have seen aphelion clouds sitting close to the surface at night, then rising 20 kilometers up in the afternoon.
From Science Magazine ● Mar. 22, 2017
What is the period of revolution for a comet with aphelion at 5 AU and perihelion at the orbit of Earth?
From Textbooks ● Oct. 13, 2016
When Alpha sets, Beta is at zenith; when Gamma is at aphelion, Delta is near.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 19, 2012
It seems probable, then, that in all northern lands glaciation would commence when autumn occurred in aphelion.
From Island Life Or the Phenomena and Causes of Insular Faunas and Floras by Alfred Russel Wallace
We find, as a matter of fact, that several periodic comets either pass near Jupiter or have their aphelia in the neighbourhood of the orbit of Jupiter.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 7 "Columbus" to "Condottiere" by Various
Moreover, a large majority of comets would then have their aphelia in the direction of the sun’s motion, and therefore their perihelia in the opposite direction.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 7 "Columbus" to "Condottiere" by Various
The two last-named comets would likewise seem to have a period of revolution not exceeding five or six years, and their aphelia are in the vicinity of Jupiter's orbit.
From COSMOS: A Sketch of the Physical Description of the Universe, Vol. 1 by Alexander von Humboldt
The extremes of temperature at perihelia and aphelia to which comets are subjected did not bother him particularly.
From Astronomy: The Science of the Heavenly Bodies by David Peck Todd
From considerations on the aphelia of certain comets, Prof. Forbes in 1880 computed the probable position of such a body.
From Astronomical Curiosities Facts and Fallacies by J. Ellard Gore
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