perihelion
noun
peri·he·lion
ˌper-ə-ˈhēl-yən 
plural perihelia
ˌper-ə-ˈhēl-yə
: the point nearest to the sun in the path of an orbiting celestial body (such as a planet) compare aphelion
Examples of perihelion in a Sentence
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Unlike other planets that have a more or less circular, equatorial orbit around the sun, Pluto’s is sharply inclined and highly elliptical, with a perihelion, or close approach to the sun, of roughly 2.7 billion miles, and an apehelion, or furthest remove from the sun, of 4.67 billion miles.
—
Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 18 Feb. 2025
According to Cooke, the comet has passed perihelion, or an orbit’s closest point to the sun.
—Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025
The minimum distance occurs when the Earth passes Mars at a time when the planet is at the point in its orbit nearest the sun (perihelion).
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 10 Jan. 2025
Not just Earth gets a perihelion and an aphelion each year.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
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Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 18 Feb. 2025
According to Cooke, the comet has passed perihelion, or an orbit’s closest point to the sun.
—Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025
The minimum distance occurs when the Earth passes Mars at a time when the planet is at the point in its orbit nearest the sun (perihelion).
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 10 Jan. 2025
Not just Earth gets a perihelion and an aphelion each year.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perihelion
Cite this Entry
“Perihelion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perihelion. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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perihelion
noun
peri·he·lion
ˌper-ə-ˈhēl-yən
: the point in the path of a heavenly body (as a planet) that is nearest to the sun
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