Dictionary term
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.
It is the generic nearest point of an orbit.
A scientific orientation to scale, light, or motion; the article supplies the precise definition.Quick reference
- Use when
- Name the central body when a specialized term improves clarity.
- Do not use it for
- Nearest orbital point is not necessarily nearest to an observer elsewhere.
- Reference category
- Astronomy & Skywatching
- Related terms
- Sidereal Period, Synodic Period, Apoapsis, Perihelion
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The story behind Periapsis
Conic-section orbit theory supplied a general vocabulary for nearest approach.
Periapsis: fact and faith, kept distinct
This is a factual astronomy reference. It can support wonder at the created order without becoming a claim of fate, worship, or private revelation.
Periapsis in numerology
Periapsis is not a numerology claim. Any numbers attached to it should retain their ordinary scientific, calendrical, navigational, or historical meaning unless a separate symbolic interpretation is clearly labeled.
Why Periapsis matters
It unifies specialized terms such as perihelion and perigee.
Periapsis at work: an example
A spacecraft around Mars reaches periapsis at its minimum orbital radius.
Where interpretation stops
Periapsis is presented as sourced astronomy, calendrical, Earth-science, cultural, or instrument-history reference. Definitions should distinguish measured phenomena from civil convention and historical interpretation, preserve location and time dependencies, and avoid turning factual sky data into a deterministic personal claim.
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
- Also appears in
- Astronomy & Skywatching
- Aliases
- None listed
- Last updated
- 2026-07-16
Identify an orbit’s nearest point
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More in Astronomy & Skywatching
Common questions
What is Periapsis?
Periapsis is the point in an orbit nearest the body or barycenter serving as its focus.
How is Periapsis used in an almanac?
Name the central body when a specialized term improves clarity.
What should I avoid when interpreting Periapsis?
Nearest orbital point is not necessarily nearest to an observer elsewhere.
