rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryperigeeClosest orbital point to Earth
noun

perigee

PAIR-ih-jee/ˈperɪdʒiː/

The point in an orbit nearest Earth.

The satellite reaches perigee at the point of its orbit nearest Earth.

A satellite is shown at the point of its elliptical orbit nearest Earth.
Etymology
periGreeknear
+geeGreekearth

Here peri- means “near,” rather than its more familiar “around.” Together the pieces mean “near the earth,” naming the point where an orbiting body comes closest to Earth.

In context

CTV News1:13
sometimes the moon is closer to us, a point called perigee, and other times it's further away, which astronomers call apogee. The difference can be 50,000 kilometers.
Look up: Supermoon orbit closest to Earth since 1948

More examples

  • Engineers calculate the satellite's speed at perigee.
  • The Moon appears slightly larger at perigee.
  • The two satellites have perigees at different altitudes.

Forms

perigee · perigees

Similar words

periapsis
Names the nearest orbital point around any central body.