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Aphelion

Aphelion is the point in the orbit of a celestial body, such as a planet or comet, where it is farthest from the sun. The term is derived from the Greek words “apo,” meaning “away from,” and “helios,” meaning “sun.” In contrast, the point in an orbit where a celestial body is closest to the sun is called perihelion. The distance and position of aphelion are significant in astrophysics as they can influence the orbital dynamics and seasonal changes of the celestial body. Aphelion is primarily applicable in the study of planetary orbits within our solar system, as well as in the context of other stars and their orbiting exoplanets.