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longitude of the perihelion

astronomy

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The longitude of the perihelion is a term in astronomy that describes the heliocentric longitude of a celestial body's perihelion point. This point is the closest approach of a planet, comet, or other body to the Sun in its orbit.12

The longitude of the perihelion is measured along the ecliptic to the orbit's node and then along the orbit to the perihelion point. It helps define the size and shape of an orbit, along with other orbital elements like inclination and eccentricity. For Earth, perihelion occurs in early January, when it is closest to the Sun.132

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