%perigeum%

{ } n. [ NL. perigeum, fr. Gr. peri` about, near + gh^ the earth: cf. F. périgée. ] (Astron.) That point, in the orbit of the moon or other body orbiting the earth, which is nearest to the earth; -- opposed to apogee. It is sometimes, but rarely, used of the nearest points of bodies not orbiting the earth, such as of a comet, a planet, etc. Called also epigee, epigeum. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]