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
Recent Examples on the Web
It's forecast to reach its perihelion on April 21 and its closest approach to Earth will occur on June 2.
—
The Arizona Republic, 27 Mar. 2024
This is when the comet will reach its perihelion: the closest point to the sun on its orbital path.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2024
This image, captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft, shows the sun in false color on Jan. 4, 2014 — at perihelion.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 4 Jan. 2014
With April 8 being so close to the Devil Comet's April 21 perihelion, the comet could be observable during the darkness of totality.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2024
The answer came out right: his equations predicted the perihelion should drift by about 43 arc seconds per century.
—Walter Isaacson, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2015
This year perihelion came at 00:38 UTC on Wednesday, January 3.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 4 Jan. 2024
The stunning photo and other images were taken during the spacecraft's inaugural close encounter with the sun, known as perihelion, in mid-June and capture a number of new, strange phenomena never before seen on the star at the center of our solar system.
—Jennifer Leman, Popular Mechanics, 16 July 2020
The shower reaches its perihelion – closest approach to the sun – every 33 years.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 16 Nov. 2023
The Arizona Republic, 27 Mar. 2024
This is when the comet will reach its perihelion: the closest point to the sun on its orbital path.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2024
This image, captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft, shows the sun in false color on Jan. 4, 2014 — at perihelion.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 4 Jan. 2014
With April 8 being so close to the Devil Comet's April 21 perihelion, the comet could be observable during the darkness of totality.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2024
The answer came out right: his equations predicted the perihelion should drift by about 43 arc seconds per century.
—Walter Isaacson, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2015
This year perihelion came at 00:38 UTC on Wednesday, January 3.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 4 Jan. 2024
The stunning photo and other images were taken during the spacecraft's inaugural close encounter with the sun, known as perihelion, in mid-June and capture a number of new, strange phenomena never before seen on the star at the center of our solar system.
—Jennifer Leman, Popular Mechanics, 16 July 2020
The shower reaches its perihelion – closest approach to the sun – every 33 years.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 16 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'perihelion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near perihelion
Cite this Entry
“Perihelion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perihelion. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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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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