periapse

created by Torque
(thing) by Torque (1.5 y) (print)   (I like it!) Sun Oct 22 2000 at 7:19:48

Periapse is the general term for the point where an orbiting body is closest to the primary body. Compare perigee, the closest point an obiting body comes to the Earth, and perihelion, the closest point an orbiting body comes to the Sun.

See Kepler's laws of planetary motion.

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