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Dictionary Entry: Aphelion

Aphelion

Part of Speech

Noun

Pronunciation

/ˈæfɪliən/

Definitions

  • 1. The point in the orbit of a planet, asteroid, or comet that is farthest from the sun.
  • 2. The location or event at which a celestial body is farthest from the sun.

Usage Examples

  1. When Earth reaches its aphelion, it is at its farthest distance from the sun.
  2. The spacecraft's trajectory was calculated to pass near the aphelion of the distant comet.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek words "apo" meaning "away from" and "helios" meaning "sun," referring to the point where an orbiting body is at its greatest distance from the sun.

Synonyms

  • Far-point
  • Sun-farthest

Antonyms

  • Perihelion
  • Sun-nearest

Translations

Language Translation Pronunciation
SpanishAfelioah-feh-lee-oh
FrenchAphelionah-fay-lee-on
GermanAphelah-fel
ItalianAfelioah-feh-lee-oh
Russianафелийafe-lee-ee
Chinese远日点yuǎn rì diǎn
Arabicالأفليal-afili
Hindiअफेलियनapheliyan
Japanese遠日点en-nichiten
Korean원일점won-il-jeom

Regional Pronunciation Variations

  • In American English, the second syllable tends to have a shorter, more clipped sound.
  • In British English, the "ph" may be pronounced with more emphasis, making it slightly longer.

Historical Usage

The term "aphelion" was first used in the early 17th century, as scientists began to better understand the elliptical orbits of planets and other celestial bodies. The concept has been central to the study of astronomy, particularly in describing the varying distances of planets from the sun throughout their orbits.

Cultural Nuances

Aphelion is often discussed in the context of astronomical studies and space exploration. In certain cultures, the concept of aphelion has also been linked to astrological interpretations of planetary movement, where it may represent a time of distant or disconnected energy from the sun.

More Information

Detailed Article on 'Aphelion'

Aphelion refers to the point in a celestial body’s orbit where it is farthest from the sun. This is a key concept in understanding orbital mechanics, particularly for planets, comets, and asteroids. For Earth, aphelion occurs around July 4 each year, when the Earth reaches its greatest distance from the sun at about 152 million kilometers (94.5 million miles).

The opposite of aphelion is perihelion, which refers to the point in the orbit when a celestial body is closest to the sun. The variations in distance between aphelion and perihelion are more noticeable for comets with elongated orbits, but for Earth, the difference is relatively small in terms of temperature or climate impact. However, aphelion is still a key event in understanding the dynamics of our solar system.

In terms of space missions, understanding aphelion is crucial for calculating trajectories and planning spacecraft travel, especially for missions to distant planets or asteroids. The orbit of the Voyager spacecraft, for example, takes it far beyond the aphelion of Earth, into the outer reaches of our solar system.

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