Apoapsis
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
For an object orbiting a celestial body, the apoapsis is the point in its orbit which is farthest from that body. The opposite position in the orbit is the periapsis.
Periapsis and apoapsis are generic terms. The prefixes "peri-" and "apo-" are commonly applied to the Greek or Roman name of the particular body being orbited.
As an example, consider perigee and apogee for Earth, perijove and apojove for Jupiter, periselene and aposelene or perilune and apolune for lunar orbit, perichron and apochron for Saturn, perihelion and apohelion for the Sun, etc.
The apoapsis is referred to in various MFD modes as:
- ApA, apoapsis altitude, distance of the apoapsis from the surface of the body.
- ApD, apoapsis distance, essentially the same as ApA.
- ApR, apoapsis radius, distance of the apoapsis from the center of the body.