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
Meanwhile, its perihelion—the closest point on its orbit to the Sun—is 44.5 times that of the Earth's orbit, similar to Pluto's orbit.
—
Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025
When Earth is closest to the sun (called perihelion), its orbital rate is faster than average, so the true sun lags behind the mean sun.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 5 June 2025
The object's last perihelion also came, coincidentally, during the same year that Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto with a 13-inch (330mm) telescope at Lowell Observatory in Arizona.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 30 May 2025
Small sun-skirting comets originating from the Oort Cloud, making their first approach to the sun, often disintegrate before reaching perihelion (their closest approach to the sun).
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perihelion
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Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025
When Earth is closest to the sun (called perihelion), its orbital rate is faster than average, so the true sun lags behind the mean sun.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 5 June 2025
The object's last perihelion also came, coincidentally, during the same year that Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto with a 13-inch (330mm) telescope at Lowell Observatory in Arizona.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 30 May 2025
Small sun-skirting comets originating from the Oort Cloud, making their first approach to the sun, often disintegrate before reaching perihelion (their closest approach to the sun).
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 9 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 4 Jul. 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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