pericenter

[ per-uh-sen-ter ]
/ ˈpɛr əˌsɛn tər /

noun Astronomy.

the point at which a heavenly body orbiting around a primary other than the earth or sun is closest to the primary.
Compare apocenter.

Origin of pericenter

First recorded in 1900–05; peri- + center

OTHER WORDS FROM pericenter

per·i·cen·tral, per·i·cen·tric, adjective