Here's a breakdown:
* Perihelion: The point in a celestial body's orbit where it is closest to the Sun.
* Aphelion: The point in a celestial body's orbit where it is farthest from the Sun.
Since Earth's orbit is slightly elliptical (not perfectly circular), we experience perihelion and aphelion throughout the year.
Key Points:
* Not about distance from the Sun: Perihelion and aphelion are not about how far away the object is from the Sun, but rather about the position of the body in its orbit.
* Not about the seasons: The position of perihelion and aphelion does not determine the seasons on Earth. Seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis.
* Speed: A celestial body moves faster at perihelion due to the increased gravitational pull of the Sun.
Think of it like a spinning figure skater: as they pull their arms in closer to their body, they spin faster. Similarly, Earth spins faster when it's closest to the Sun.
