perigeet

Perigee is the point in the orbit of an object, such as the Moon or a satellite, where it is closest to the Earth. The opposite point in the orbit, where the object is farthest from Earth, is called apogee. The Moon's orbit around the Earth is not a perfect circle but an ellipse, which is why its distance from Earth varies. Therefore, the Moon experiences perigee and apogee during its orbit.

When the Moon is at perigee, it appears slightly larger and brighter in the sky than when it is at apogee. This phenomenon is often referred to as a "supermoon" when perigee coincides with a full moon. The gravitational pull of the Moon on the Earth is also stronger at perigee, which can lead to slightly higher tides. While the difference in tidal height is noticeable, it is generally not a cause for alarm.

The distance of the Moon from Earth at perigee typically ranges from about 356,400 to 363,300 kilometers (221,500 to 225,700 miles). The exact timing and distance of perigee change with each lunar orbit. Understanding perigee helps in astronomical observations and in predicting tidal patterns.