periapsis

Meanings

Plural: periapses, periapsides, periapsises

Noun

• (astronomy) the point in an orbit closest to the body being orbited
• The point of a body's (elliptical) orbit in a 2-body gravitational system such that the distance between the two bodies (measured from their respective centres of mass) is at its minimum.
• The minimum distance between the two bodies in such a system.

Synonyms

periapse, pericenter, point of periapsis

Antonyms

apoapsis, point of apoapsis

Related Words

periareion, periastron, peribothron, pericenter, pericentre, pericynthion, perigalacticon, perigee, perihelion, perihermion, perijove, perikron, perikrone, perilune, perimelasma, perinigricon, periposeidon, perisaturnium, periselene