Aphelia is a term that is not commonly used in everyday language, but it has a specific meaning in science and astronomy. This article will explore the definition and meaning of aphelia, its origin, associations, synonyms, antonyms, and provide examples of how it is used in sentences.
Definitions
Aphelia is the plural form of aphelion, which refers to the point in a planet’s orbit that is farthest from the sun. It is the opposite of perihelion, which is the point in a planet’s orbit that is closest to the sun.
Origin
The term aphelion comes from the Greek words “apo” meaning away from and “helios” meaning sun. It was first used in the 17th century by the German astronomer Johannes Kepler.
Meaning in different dictionaries
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines aphelion as “the point in the path of a celestial body (such as a planet) that is farthest from the sun.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “the point in the orbit of a planet or other celestial body at which it is farthest from the sun.”
Associations
Aphelia is associated with the study of astronomy and space exploration. It is also associated with the cycles and movements of planets and other celestial bodies.
Synonyms
The synonyms for aphelia include apocenter, apsis, and far point.
Antonyms
The antonyms for aphelia include perihelion, periapsis, and near point.
The same root words
The same root words as aphelia include helios, which means sun, and apo, which means away from.
Example Sentences
- The planet’s aphelia is the farthest point from the sun in its orbit.
- The spacecraft was launched during the planet’s aphelion to take advantage of the increased distance from the sun.
- The comet’s aphelion is located beyond the orbit of Neptune.
- The scientists studied the planet’s aphelia to better understand its orbit and gravitational pull.
- The spacecraft will reach its aphelion in six months, at which point it will begin its return journey towards the sun.