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prettygoodwordapsis - n., (Astron.) one of the two points in an elliptical orbit when the orbiting body is nearest (periapsis) or furthest (apopsis) from the center of attraction; (Arch.) an apse.
For bodies orbiting Earth, these have the special names perigee and apogee; around the Sun, perihelion and aphelion. You can substitute other body names, but these are more rarely used; Wikipedia has a helpful list anyway. From Latin apsis, arch, vault, from Greek hapsis, from haptein, to fasten.
---L.
For bodies orbiting Earth, these have the special names perigee and apogee; around the Sun, perihelion and aphelion. You can substitute other body names, but these are more rarely used; Wikipedia has a helpful list anyway. From Latin apsis, arch, vault, from Greek hapsis, from haptein, to fasten.
---L.
