perilune
/ˈpɛrɪluːn
/noun [mass noun]
The point at which a spacecraft in lunar orbit is closest to the moon. The opposite of apolune.SMART - 1 reached its closest point to the lunar surface so far - its first ‘perilune’ - at an altitude of about 5000 kilometres at 18: 48 Central European Time on 15 November.
Origin
1960s: from peri- 'around' + Latin luna 'moon', on the pattern of perigee.
- pitcher's mound
- pitcher vase
- pitch-farthing
- pitch fiber
- pitch fibre
- pitch fir
- pitchfork
- pitch-hole
- pitchi
- pitch in
- pitchiness
- pitching axis
- pitching hole
- pitching moment
- pitching mound
- pitching pence
- pitching piece
- pitching stone
- pitching temperature
- pitching yeast
- pitch inspection
- pitch into
- pitch invasion
- pitch kettle
- pitch-kettled