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Aphelion

Definition of Aphelion

Aphelion is a phenomenon that occurs when the Earth is at its farthest point from the sun in the path of its orbit. It should be noted that the opposite is perihelion, which is when the Earth or any other celestial body is at its closest point to the sun.

SYNONYMS FOR Aphelion

  1. Away
  2. Away from the sun
  3. The planet far from the sun
  4. Point farthest from the sun in the orbit.

ORIGIN OF Aphelion

This word comes from the Greek word aphelion formed by the prefix “apo” which means far away and “helios” which denotes the sun.

Although another theory says that this term does not exist in ancient Greek, but originates from the scientific Latin aphelium, aphelion, a term created by Johhannes Kepler (1571-1630), German mathematician and astronomer, who was influenced by the word apogee, in classical Greek apógeion (“coming out of the earth” which also means “earth breeze”).

As well as “far from the Earth” (apógeion) which the Greek astronomer Ptolemy used to name the point in the orbit where the planet is farthest from the sun.

Also in the writings of Pliny the Elder in the first century A.D. the term apogaeusventus or “wind of the earth” was used. Another term apogaeum, already Latinized, means “coming from the earth”.

CURIOSITIES OF Aphelion

It is worth mentioning that a false message was viralized through the instant messaging platform WhatsApp in April of this year, where it was expressed that the phenomenon had begun and would continue until the following year.

This alerted people and invited them to take precautions due to the cold that would be prolonged and would make many people sick, especially those suffering from respiratory diseases. The message was denied, identified as a false chain.