noun
- Plural of periapsis; the points in an orbit closest to the body being orbited.
Usage: astronomy; technical
Examples
- The satellite's periapses occur when it is nearest to Earth.
- Astronomers calculated the periapses of the comet's elliptical orbit.
- At periapses, the spacecraft experiences its strongest gravitational pull.
- The mission adjusted the orbit by raising the periapses to a higher altitude.
- Multiple periapses were observed as the object completed several orbital cycles.