Perihelion is the point in a body's orbit closest to the Sun. It is the closest to which object?

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Multiple Choice

Perihelion is the point in a body's orbit closest to the Sun. It is the closest to which object?

Perihelion is the point in an orbit where the distance to the Sun is smallest. Since this term is defined with respect to the Sun, the orbiting body is closest to the Sun at that moment. So the closest object in perihelion is the Sun. (For contrast, the Moon’s closest approach to Earth is called perigee, since it orbits Earth rather than the Sun.)

Perihelion is the point in an orbit where the distance to the Sun is smallest. Since this term is defined with respect to the Sun, the orbiting body is closest to the Sun at that moment. So the closest object in perihelion is the Sun. (For contrast, the Moon’s closest approach to Earth is called perigee, since it orbits Earth rather than the Sun.)

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