perihelion









perihelion


perihelion [per-uh-hee-lee-uh n, -heel-yuh n] ExamplesWord Origin noun, plural per·i·he·li·a [per-uh-hee-lee-uh, -heel-yuh] /ˌpɛr əˈhi li ə, -ˈhil yə/. Astronomy.

  1. the point in the orbit of a planet or comet at which it is nearest to the sun.

Compare aphelion. Origin of perihelion 1660–70; Greek peri- peri- + hḗli(os) sun + -on neuter noun suffix, on the model of perigee; earlier in the New Latin form perihelium Related formsper·i·he·li·al, per·i·he·li·an, adjective Examples from the Web for perihelia Historical Examples of perihelia

  • This tendency of the perihelia to crowd together in two opposite regions has been noticed by different writers.

    Comets and Meteors

    Daniel Kirkwood

  • The extremes of temperature at perihelia and aphelia to which comets are subjected did not bother him particularly.

    Astronomy

    David Todd

  • At the second, Encke’s comet and all others with perihelia within Mercury’s orbit would have shared a similar fate.

    The Asteroids

    Daniel Kirkwood

  • It is a remarkable fact, however, that the longitudes of their perihelia differ by almost exactly 180.

    The Asteroids

    Daniel Kirkwood

  • The maximum occurs between 30 and 60, where thirty-five perihelia are found in 30 of longitude.

    The Asteroids

    Daniel Kirkwood

  • British Dictionary definitions for perihelia perihelion noun plural -lia (-lɪə)

    1. the point in its orbit when a planet or comet is nearest the sunCompare aphelion

    Word Origin for perihelion C17: from New Latin perihēlium, from peri- + Greek hēlios sun Word Origin and History for perihelia perihelion n.

    “point at which a celestial body is nearest the Sun,” 1680s, coined in Modern Latin (perihelium) by Kepler (1596) from Latinizations of Greek peri “near” (see peri-) + helios “sun” (see sol). Subsequently re-Greeked.

    perihelia in Science perihelion [pĕr′ə-hē′lē-ən]

    1. The point at which an orbiting object, such as a planet or a comet, is closest to the Sun. Compare aphelion perigee.
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