heliocentric

adjective

he·​lio·​cen·​tric ˌhē-lē-ō-ˈsen-trik 

1

: referred to or measured from the sun's center or appearing as if seen from it

2

: having or relating to the sun as center compare geocentric

Examples of heliocentric in a Sentence

Galileo proposed the heliocentric theory that the Earth goes around the sun.

Recent Examples on the Web

By November 25, the sun’s gravitational tugging will have overcome that of Earth’s, sending this mini moon back into its default heliocentric orbit with the rest of its Arjuna kin. —Lee Billings, Scientific American, 25 Sep. 2024

Then, the space rock will return to a heliocentric orbit, which is an orbit around the sun. —Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2024

In 1610, aided by the emergence of telescopes, Galileo Galilei famously observed Jupiter's four largest moons, thereby bolstering the Copernican heliocentric model of the solar system. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 June 2024

And perhaps the church leaders were slightly more at ease with the new heliocentric model of the solar system. —Danuta Hamlin, Fox News, 18 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1685, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

heliocentric

adjective

he·​lio·​cen·​tric ˌhē-lē-ō-ˈsen-trik 

1

: referred to or measured from the sun's center or appearing as if seen from it

2

: having or relating to the sun as a center