What is a pherhelion?

A perihelion is the point in the orbit of a celestial body, such as a planet or comet, where it is closest to the Sun. This term is derived from the Greek Words "peri," meaning near, and "heliOS," meaning sun. During perihelion, the gravitational pull from the Sun is at its strongest, which can affect the object's speed and trajectory in space. For Earth, perihelion occurs around early January each year.