The point in the
orbit when the a
planet is closest to the
sun is called perihelion.
The point when the
planet is furthest from
the sun is called the aphelion.
In the case of
earthÕs orbit, perihelion occurs in early January,
while aphelion occurs in early July. The planet gets
more sunshine at perihelion, and less at
aphelion, because of the inverse square law.