helio-, heli-

A life form that thrives in diffuse sunlight: One example of an anheliophile is the flowering plant of the genus Heliconia that grows in the forests of the tropical Americas.

The process of a living organism grow growing in diffuse sunlight: Anheliophily is known to take place in tropical forest areas, like the plants in the genus heliconia.

The point or distance in the orbit of a celestial body; such as, a planet or comet, that is at the greatest distance from the sun.

A reference to turning or growing away from the sun; said of leaves, etc.

A tendency to bend or to turn away from sunlight; especially, with reference to the leaves of plants.

Relating to, or showing, movement of the leaves of plants that follow the sun so they remain perpendicular to the sun's rays throughout the day.

A tendency of leaves, or other organs, of plants to have their outer surface facing towards sunlight.

The treatment of diseases by exposure to sunshine and fresh air: Dr. Martin thought that helioaerotherapy would be a very good idea for Chuck's daughter who suffered from a chronic and recurrent lung ailment.

A reference to being focused on the sun.

A rule for designating each point in space by a set of numbers that are relative to how far something is to the sun as a center.

The principle that the earth and other planets revolve around the sun: following the work of Copernicus in the 16th century.

This replaced the earlier geocentric (earth-centered) system described by Ptolemy (c. A.D. 100-170).

Ptolemy was a Greek philosopher who presented a widely accepted model of the solar system known as the "Ptolemaic system". He also made important contributions to geography and cartography.

The "Ptolemaic system" was a theory developed by Ptolemy, about A.D. 150, maintaining a motionless earth is the center of the universe with sun, moon, and planets revolving, around it; while the fixed stars are attached to an outer sphere concentric with the earth. This model was generally accepted in the West until the establishment of the "Copernican theory" about 1500 years later.

Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543), is the Latinized version of the name Mikolaj Kopernik, the Polish astronomer who established the heliocentric model of the solar system; that is, the principle that the sun (not the earth) is the central point to which the motions of the planets are to be referred.

Copernicus was recognized as the first person in history to create a complete general arrangement of the solar system (Copernican system); combining mathematics, physics, and cosmology.

Characterized by green plants which convert energy from the sun into chemical energy by way of photosynthesis.

The conversion of energy from the sun to chemical energy; especially, by the process in which green plants utilize solar energy through photosynthesis.

A device used to simulate the angle of the sun which is used to assess the shading potentials of building structures or landscape features.