perigee
noun
peri·gee ˈper-ə-(ˌ)jē 
: the point in the orbit of an object (such as a satellite) orbiting the earth that is nearest to the center of the earth
also : the point nearest a planet or a satellite (such as the moon) reached by an object orbiting it compare apogee
perigean
ˌper-ə-ˈjē-ən
adjective 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The moon will reach perigee at 5:06 a.m. EDT Wednesday, and will officially be a full moon at 2:38 p.m. EDT, but will shine bright for much of the week, according to NASA. 
Dennis Romero, NBC News, 13 July 2022 As a result, the two small satellites were injected into an orbit with a perigee of just 76 km. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 12 Aug. 2022 Supermoons are defined as any full moon situated at a distance of 90% perigee or higher, the point where the moon is closest to the Earth. Wire Reports, oregonlive, 19 June 2022 For most of its orbit, the full moon and the perigee do not coincide. Sarah Raza, Detroit Free Press, 12 July 2022 Full Moon: July 13 The July full moon occurs just nine hours after the Moon travels to its closest point to Earth, known as perigee. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 5 July 2022 The full moon began Tuesday morning around 7:52 a.m., and was at its closest to Earth — or perigee — at 7:24 p.m. EDT, according to NASA. Phil Helsel, NBC News, 15 June 2022 Because the moon follows an elliptical path around the Earth, its closest distance from our planet (known as the perigee) varies throughout the year. oregonlive, 7 June 2022 About 6,100 of those objects have a perigee below 600 km. Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 10 Feb. 2022 See More
Dennis Romero, NBC News, 13 July 2022 As a result, the two small satellites were injected into an orbit with a perigee of just 76 km. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 12 Aug. 2022 Supermoons are defined as any full moon situated at a distance of 90% perigee or higher, the point where the moon is closest to the Earth. Wire Reports, oregonlive, 19 June 2022 For most of its orbit, the full moon and the perigee do not coincide. Sarah Raza, Detroit Free Press, 12 July 2022 Full Moon: July 13 The July full moon occurs just nine hours after the Moon travels to its closest point to Earth, known as perigee. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 5 July 2022 The full moon began Tuesday morning around 7:52 a.m., and was at its closest to Earth — or perigee — at 7:24 p.m. EDT, according to NASA. Phil Helsel, NBC News, 15 June 2022 Because the moon follows an elliptical path around the Earth, its closest distance from our planet (known as the perigee) varies throughout the year. oregonlive, 7 June 2022 About 6,100 of those objects have a perigee below 600 km. Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 10 Feb. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle French, from New Latin perigeum, from Greek perigeion, from neuter of perigeios near the earth, from peri- + gē earth
First Known Use
1595, in the meaning defined above