Definition of the word apogee

The word "apogee" has its roots in Greek astronomy. The term is derived from the Greek words "apó" meaning "away from" and "gé" meaning "earth". In ancient Greek astronomy, the apogee referred to the point on the ecliptic, the path Earth takes around the Sun, where the Moon is farthest from Earth. The word was later adopted in Latin as "apogaeus", and then translated into Middle English as "apogee". In modern astronomy, the apogee refers to the point on an orbit, such as that of the Moon or a satellite, where it is farthest from the center of the central body, such as the Earth. The concept of apogee is useful in navigation, space exploration, and other fields where understanding the trajectory of celestial bodies is crucial.