Coast Guard Exams
Question 1411Navigation General70% to pass

Aphelion is the point where the Sun _______________.

AI Explanation
The correct answer is D) the Sun is farthest from the Earth. The aphelion is the point in the Earth's orbit around the Sun where the Earth is farthest from the Sun. This occurs around July 4th each year. At aphelion, the Sun appears smallest in the sky and the Earth receives the least amount of solar radiation. The other answer choices are incorrect. A) refers to the equinoxes, when the Sun crosses the celestial equator. B) and C) describe the positions of the Sun, Moon, and Earth during eclipses, not aphelion.

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