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• The orbit of the Moon is complex.  This makes it a classic example of most properties of planet & Satellite orbits.  The concepts discussed here will be repeated throughout the course.

• Moon's orbit is elliptical, not a circle, the Earth is not at the center of moon's orbit.

1) Apogee: This is the point where the orbiting object (Moon) is farthest from it's parent (Earth).

2) Perigee:  The point where the orbiting object is closest to its parent.

3) Focus:  The focus is one of two points on an ellipse where the parent body may be found (for a circular orbit both foci are at the same place).

4) The Line of Apsides:  An imaginary reference line passing through both foci.  It crosses the orbit at Perigee on one side and Apogee on the other.

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