perigee

 
Pronunciation: /ˈpɛrɪdʒiː/

noun

Astronomy
  • the point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite at which it is nearest to the earth. The opposite of apogee

Origin:

late 16th century: from French périgée, via modern Latin from Greek perigeion 'close round the earth', from peri- 'around' + gē 'earth'