The point in a body's orbit at which the body is closest to the sun. During their engagement with the Brazilian probes upon their arrival at Sol, Riker and Homer use a solar slingshot maneuver to divide and conquer the six Brazilians probes, commanded by Captain Matias Araujo, who outnumber the Bobs 3 to 1. The Bobs timed their attack to engage the enemy close to perihelion as they passed across the Sun on the opposite side from Earth.