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perijove

perijove

9.9
The point in an orbit around Jupiter when a spacecraft or moon is closest to the planet
  • noun
  • /ˌpɛrɪˈdʒoʊv/
  • Specialized
translation icon : perijove
  • Mission scientists eagerly awaited images taken during perijove on the latest orbital pass.

Examples

  • The spacecraft made its closest approach at perijove, gathering valuable data about Jupiter's atmosphere.

  • Each time the probe reaches perijove, its instruments are directed at new features on Jupiter's surface.

  • The spacecraft reached its perijove yesterday.

  • At perijove, the gravitational pull is strongest.

  • As a spacecraft approaches perijove, it experiences increased gravitational pull from Jupiter.

  • During its mission, the probe recorded data every time it reached perijove to study the planet's atmosphere.

  • Astronomers calculate the perijove of moons to understand their orbits around Jupiter.

Synonyms

periapsis
vsperijove
  • Specialized
9.9

The point in an object's orbit when it is closest to the body it goes around

is used only for orbits near a specific planet rather than any body
point of periapsis
vsperijove
  • Specialized
9.9

A place in an orbit where an object is closest to the planet or star it goes around

is used only for orbits near a specific planet rather than any body

Antonyms

apojove
  • Specialized
9.9

The farthest point in a satellite's path around Jupiter

Surface Forms

perijove singular
perijoves plural

Morphology

perijove = Jove (opaque) = peri + jove

The combining form 'peri-' and the poetic form 'Jove' are specialized/rare in everyday English, so the meaning 'closest approach to Jupiter' is not readily derivable by an average B1 learner.

Etymology

The word perijove comes from peri- 'around' and Jove 'Jupiter'. So perijove is the point in an orbit around Jupiter when a spacecraft is closest to the planet.