Sky science
Periapsis
Direct answer
Periapsis is the point in an orbit nearest the body or barycenter serving as its focus.
It is the generic nearest point of an orbit.
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At a glance
- Found in
- Astronomy & Skywatching
- Related
- Sidereal Period, Synodic Period, Apoapsis, Perihelion
It is the generic nearest point of an orbit.
A scientific orientation to scale, light, or motion; the article supplies the precise definition.
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The story behind Periapsis
Conic-section orbit theory supplied a general vocabulary for nearest approach.
A one-minute story
The Wandering Stars
How the moving planets were watched, named and found, and what a transit is.
Why Periapsis matters
Periapsis unifies specialized terms such as perihelion and perigee.
How to read Periapsis
Name the central body when a specialized term improves clarity.
Periapsis in practice: an example
A spacecraft around Mars reaches periapsis at its minimum orbital radius.
Where readings of Periapsis go wrong
Nearest orbital point is not necessarily nearest to an observer elsewhere.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- NASA Science: Orbits and Kepler’s Laws - NASA explanation of orbital ellipses, orbital periods, and Kepler’s laws of planetary motion.
- U.S. Naval Observatory: Astronomical Almanac Glossary - Definitions for astronomical coordinates, time, reference systems, and observable phenomena.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Astronomy & Skywatching
- Last updated
- 2026-09-26
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Common questions
What is periapsis?
Periapsis is the point in an orbit nearest the body or barycenter serving as its focus.
What do people get wrong about periapsis?
Nearest orbital point is not necessarily nearest to an observer elsewhere.
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