apocenter

[ap-uh-sen-ter]

noun

Astronomy.

1. the point in the orbit of a heavenly body farthest from a primary other than the earth or the sun.

Other Word Forms

• apocentric adjective
• apocentricity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of apocenter¹

First recorded in 1900–05; apo- + center

Example Sentences

The plume was present when Europa was near apocenter and was not detected close to its pericenter, in agreement with tidal modeling predictions.

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