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
For a storm to happen, Earth has to pass through a dense part of the comet’s debris during perihelion, but sometimes our planet only skims the outskirts.
—
Gina Park, CNN Money, 16 Nov. 2025
Meteor storms only occur when the shower's parent comet makes its closest approach to the sun – an event known as perihelion – about once every 33 years, releasing fresh material that the Earth then passes through.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 13 Nov. 2025
Its nucleus is also far bigger than other notable comets, while its arrival time was fine-tuned to bring it within tens of millions of kilometers from Mars, Venus and Jupiter and be unobservable from Earth at perihelion, along with other unexpected properties.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
This activity makes the comet brighter and hence more noticeable, and at perihelion this outgassing, in theory, is at its most active.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perihelion
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Gina Park, CNN Money, 16 Nov. 2025
Meteor storms only occur when the shower's parent comet makes its closest approach to the sun – an event known as perihelion – about once every 33 years, releasing fresh material that the Earth then passes through.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 13 Nov. 2025
Its nucleus is also far bigger than other notable comets, while its arrival time was fine-tuned to bring it within tens of millions of kilometers from Mars, Venus and Jupiter and be unobservable from Earth at perihelion, along with other unexpected properties.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
This activity makes the comet brighter and hence more noticeable, and at perihelion this outgassing, in theory, is at its most active.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 29 Oct. 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 25 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share