<P> The perihelion is the point in the orbit of a celestial body where it is nearest to its orbital focus, generally a star . It is the opposite of aphelion, which is the point in the orbit where the celestial body is farthest from its focus . </P> <P> The word "perihelion" stems from the Ancient Greek words "peri", meaning "around" or "surrounding", and "helios", meaning "the Sun". "Aphelion" derives from the preposition "apo", meaning "away, off, apart". (The similar words "perigee" and "apogee" refer to the nearest and furthest points in some object's orbit around the Earth .) </P>

The point at which a planet is the greatest distance away from the sun