The Moon's closest distance to the Earth is called which term?

Study for the Geodesy Refresher Exam. Prepare with multiple choice questions, hints, and explanations. Ace your exam with confidence!

Multiple Choice

The Moon's closest distance to the Earth is called which term?

Explanation:
Distance varies because the Moon orbits Earth on an ellipse. In any orbit, the closest point is called perigee and the farthest is apogee. Since this question asks for the Moon’s closest distance to Earth, the appropriate term is perigee. At perigee the Moon is typically about 356,000 to 363,000 kilometers from Earth, while at apogee it can be around 405,000 kilometers. The terms perihelion and aphelion describe the Sun’s distance from the Earth (or other bodies around the Sun), not the Moon's distance to Earth, so they don’t apply here.

Distance varies because the Moon orbits Earth on an ellipse. In any orbit, the closest point is called perigee and the farthest is apogee. Since this question asks for the Moon’s closest distance to Earth, the appropriate term is perigee. At perigee the Moon is typically about 356,000 to 363,000 kilometers from Earth, while at apogee it can be around 405,000 kilometers. The terms perihelion and aphelion describe the Sun’s distance from the Earth (or other bodies around the Sun), not the Moon's distance to Earth, so they don’t apply here.

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