What does 'aphelion' indicate in terms of a planet's orbit?

Aphelion refers to the point in a planet's orbit where it is farthest from the Sun. This term derives from Greek roots, where "apo" means away and "helios" refers to the Sun. Understanding aphelion is crucial for grasping concepts related to orbital mechanics and celestial movements.

When a planet orbits the Sun in an elliptical path, it experiences variations in distance from the Sun at different points in its orbit. At aphelion, the distance is at its maximum, influencing various factors such as gravitational forces and the amount of solar radiation the planet receives.

In contrast, the point closest to the Sun is known as perihelion, while the speed of the planet is greatest when it is near perihelion due to gravitational pull. Atmospheric phenomena have variable locations that don't specifically correlate with aphelion or perihelion. Recognizing these definitions helps clarify the dynamics of planetary movement and their implications on climate and other environmental factors.