apogee

Definition

The point, in an orbit about the Earth, that is farthest from the Earth: the apoapsis of an Earth orbiter.

Etymology

From Middle French apogée, from Latin apogaeum, apogēum, from Ancient Greek ἀπόγειον (apógeion, “away from Earth”), from ἀπό (apó, “away”) + γῆ (gê, “Earth”).

Example Sentences

• "Conjunctions of I and II [Io and Europa] occur when they are near perigee and apogee respectively; conjunctions of II and III [Europa and Ganymede] occur when II [Europa] is near perigee."
• "The resolution of the images obtained by this American probe [Messenger] will depend on its altitude [above Mercury] at any one time: about ten meters at perigee (200km altitude), but only one 1 km at apogee (15000km)."
• "[Nereid’s] apogee—farthest point from Neptune—is five times the distance of its perigee—its closest point."

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