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Aphelion

//əˈfiː.lɪ.ən// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The point in the elliptical orbit of a comet, planet, or other astronomical object, where it is farthest from the Sun. also, figuratively

    "[I]t follows from the theory of gravity, that the aphelia of Mercury, Venus, the Earth, and Mars, slightly progress."

  2. 2
    apoapsis in solar orbit; the point in the orbit of a planet or comet that is at the greatest distance from the sun wordnet

Etymology

From New Latin aphēlium (whence English aphelium, now displaced) + -ion (used in the names of other apsides). Aphelium was formed from Ancient Greek ἀπο- (apo-, prefix meaning ‘away, from, off’) + ἥλῐος (hḗlĭos, “the sun”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sóh₂wl̥ (“the sun”)), modelled after New Latin apogaeum (“apogee”). The plural form aphelia is from aphelion + -a (plural form of the suffix -on).

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