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apsides

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apsides

(ap -să-deez) (singular: apsis)

The two points in an orbit that lie closest to – periapsis – and farthest from – apapsis – the center of gravitational attraction. The velocity of an orbiting body at the apsides is either maximal (at periapsis) or minimal (at apapsis). The line of apsides is the straight line connecting the two apsides and is the major axis of an elliptical orbit.

Collins Dictionary of Astronomy © Market House Books Ltd, 2006
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References in periodicals archive
Zimkus, 1999 m., 6 pav., c), tik cia visa vidine funkcine struktura orientuota priesinga kryptimi, o presbiterijos vieta zymi stilizuota apside, tarsi atskiras elementas isikertanti i bendra baznycios turi.
The sole reason adduced as proof of the high concentration of matter in stars, is the slow motion of the lines of apsides in compact binaries.
Method A utilizes the dates of the equinoxes, whereas Method B uses the dates of the Solstices and Apsides. The procedure for Method A is as follows: (1) find the interval from the Autumnal Equinox to the Vernal Equinox; (2) the planet's period of revolution; (3) evaluate the interval from the perihelion to the first crossing of the latus rectum; (4) evaluate the interval from the perihelion to the aphelion; (5) set the ratio of (1) to (2) equal to the ratio of (3) to (4); and finally, (6) solve the resulting transcendental equation graphically to yield the eccentricity.
Computer simulations demonstrate that the major axes (or the lines of apsides) of the other two planets probably rock back and forth by about 30 [degrees] with respect to an imaginary line that defines the average alignment of the two elliptical orbits.
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