Sky science
Aphelion
Direct answer
Aphelion is the point where a heliocentric orbiting body is farthest from the Sun.
It is the Sun-specific form of apoapsis.
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At a glance
- Found in
- Astronomy & Skywatching
- Related
- Apoapsis, Perihelion, Perigee, Apogee
It is the Sun-specific form of apoapsis.
A scientific orientation to scale, light, or motion; the article supplies the precise definition.
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The story behind Aphelion
Keplerian astronomy linked aphelion distance with slower orbital motion.
A one-minute story
The Wandering Stars
How the moving planets were watched, named and found, and what a transit is.
Why Aphelion matters
Aphelion marks the maximum solar distance in a bound eccentric orbit.
How to read Aphelion
Read it with perihelion and orbital eccentricity rather than as a climate forecast.
Where readings of Aphelion go wrong
Aphelion does not make every location colder or reduce daylight uniformly.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- NASA Science: Orbits and Kepler’s Laws - NASA explanation of orbital ellipses, orbital periods, and Kepler’s laws of planetary motion.
- NASA Science: Solar System Exploration - NASA overview of planets, moons, small bodies, rings, and the structure of the Solar System.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Astronomy & Skywatching
- Last updated
- 2026-09-26
Compare Earth at aphelion and perihelion
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More in Astronomy & Skywatching
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- Parabolic Orbit
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Common questions
What is aphelion?
Aphelion is the point where a heliocentric orbiting body is farthest from the Sun.
What do people get wrong about aphelion?
Aphelion does not make every location colder or reduce daylight uniformly.
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