periapsis

noun/ˌpɛriˈæpsɪs/

Frequency rank: #19,933 most common English word

Meaning

The point in an orbit where an orbiting body is nearest to the body it orbits.

Illustration for the English word “periapsis”

Example sentence

The spacecraft reached its periapsis and began its closest approach to the planet.

Synonyms & related words

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