What is the pointof the planet closet to the sun?

Question

What is the pointof the planet closet to the sun?

Answer 1

apogee is the farthest, perigee is the closest.

*** Correction:  the other posted answer, perihelion is correct.  Apogee and perigee refer to orbits around the earth.

Answer 2

my guess is it needs to be there so we can be here

order

Answer 3

It is true that the point of a planets' orbit which is closest the sun is called perihelion, I am not sure that is the question.

At any given moment there is a point on the sphere which is closest to the sun.  This would be the point where the solar zenith angle is zero.  The spot where a vertical pole would cast no shadow (local solar noon, and the sun directly overhead).  Center of the daylight area.

If that is the question, then I do not find a single term for this, but there might be one.  Maybe post the question in the earth science category?

Answer 4

It is called perihelion. The opposite is aphelion.

Answer 5

I think you're looking for the term "subsolar point." You mean what point of the planet itself, and not of the planet's orbit, right?

As others stated, perihelion is the closest point to the Sun in a planet's orbit. The subsolar point is the spot on the planet's surface that is closest to the Sun. Standing there, the Sun would be directly overhead, and your shadow would not point in any direction - it would be a dark blob around your feet.

Answer 6

I'm not sure if you mean "Why does Mercury exist?" or "Where in Earth's orbit does it most closely approach the sun?" or something else. When posting questions in the future, try to remember that we out here can't read your mind, okay? Anyway, there is no 'reason' that Mercury exists, and the Earth is nearest the sun in January.