What does apogee mean?
Apogee refers to the point in an object's orbit — such as that of the Moon or an artificial satellite — at which it lies farthest from the Earth. It stands in contrast to perigee, the orbital point closest to the Earth, and the two terms together describe the natural ellipticity of orbits: because orbits are not perfect circles, the distance between an orbiting body and the Earth constantly varies between these extremes. Beyond astronomy, apogee is used figuratively to mean the highest point, peak, or culmination of something, as when historians speak of an empire reaching its apogee before its decline. The word carries a formal, even elevated tone, lending gravity to discussions of achievement and ascendancy. Its Greek roots — literally 'away from the Earth' — make it a vivid reminder of how scientific vocabulary can enrich everyday language.
The point in the orbit of an object around the Earth at which it is farthest from the Earth.
"The Moon's apogee places it roughly fifty thousand kilometres farther from Earth than its perigee."
Strictly used for orbits around the Earth; for orbits around other bodies, analogous terms like apoapsis are technically preferred.
The highest or most distant point reached in the course of development or progress; the peak or climax.
"The movement reached its apogee in the late 1960s."
Standard English plural, used chiefly when comparing multiple orbital points or figurative peaks.
"Different satellites have apogees at very different altitudes depending on their missions."
When the full Moon coincides with apogee, it appears noticeably smaller than usual — astronomers call it a 'micromoon,' the opposite of a supermoon.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of apogee
Apogee derives from the Greek 'apogeion,' formed from 'apo-' meaning 'away from' and 'gē' meaning 'Earth,' so the word literally means 'away from the Earth.' The term passed into Latin and entered English in the early seventeenth century, initially in astronomical contexts describing the farthest point of the Moon's or other bodies' orbits from the Earth. It shares its Greek root with the contrasting term perigee ('around or near the Earth'), and both belong to a family of orbital terms later extended to other bodies, such as apolune and perilune for lunar orbits.
How apogee is actually used
The astronomical sense is technical but widely used in space reporting and popular science writing. The figurative sense is somewhat formal or literary, typically applied to careers, empires, movements, or eras at their height. In extended usage beyond Earth orbits, related terms such as 'apoapsis' are preferred by specialists.
Easily confused with apogee
Perigee is the point in an orbit closest to the Earth, whereas apogee is the point farthest from it.