Which orbital point for the Moon is closest to the Earth?

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

Multiple Choice

Which orbital point for the Moon is closest to the Earth?

Explanation:
When a body orbits another in an ellipse, its distance changes—from a closest point to a farthest point. For the Moon orbiting Earth, the closest point is called perigee, and the farthest point is apogee. So the Moon is nearest to Earth at perigee. The terms aphelion and perihelion refer to the Sun–Earth distance, not the Moon–Earth distance, so they aren’t the correct terms for this context.

When a body orbits another in an ellipse, its distance changes—from a closest point to a farthest point. For the Moon orbiting Earth, the closest point is called perigee, and the farthest point is apogee. So the Moon is nearest to Earth at perigee. The terms aphelion and perihelion refer to the Sun–Earth distance, not the Moon–Earth distance, so they aren’t the correct terms for this context.

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