the point in the orbit of a planet or a comet at which it is farthest from the sun
Compare perihelion
Derived forms
aphelian
adjective
Word origin
[1650–60; Hellenized form of NL aphēlium ‹ Gk *aphe᷄lion (diástēma) off-sun (distance), neut. of *aphe᷄lios (adj.), equiv. to ap-ap-2 + he᷄li(os) sun + -os adj. suffix. See apogee]