SOLAR SYSTEM

Detailed explanation-1: -The term “perihelion” refers to the point in the orbit of a planet or other astronomical body, at which it is closest to the sun. The word comes from Greek and literally means around (peri) the sun (helios). Aphelion is the point at which an orbiting body is furthest from the sun.

Detailed explanation-2: -The point of nearest approach of the planet to the Sun is termed perihelion. The point of greatest separation is aphelion, hence by Kepler’s Second Law, a planet is moving fastest when it is at perihelion and slowest at aphelion.

Detailed explanation-3: -History of Earth at Perihelion This is the day when the Earth reaches the part of its orbit when it is closest to the Sun. Earth reaching its Perihelion is a regular part of its revolution around the Sun. Perihelion is derived from the Greek words ‘peri’, meaning near, and ‘Helios’, who was the Greek God of the Sun.

Detailed explanation-4: -All planets have orbits which are elliptical, not perfectly circular, so there is a point in the orbit at which the planet is closest to the Sun, the perihelion, and a point furthest from the Sun, the aphelion. The average distance from the Sun is midway between these two values.

Detailed explanation-5: -Aphelion and Perihelion describes the furthest and closest distance the Earth is to the Sun, respectively. The Earth is farthest from the Sun (aphelion) roughly two weeks after the June Solstice, and closest to the Sun (perihelion) roughly 2 weeks after the December Solstice.