Periselenum

On an elliptical orbit around the moon , the periselenum is the point of closest distance. Accordingly, the Aposelenum is the most distant or highest point. These designations of the lunar apses stand analogously to perigee (proximity to the earth) and apogee (distance from the earth) for the place and time of the maximum values ​​of an orbit. They are made up of the Greek words Apo (far) or Peri (near) and Selene (name of the moon goddess).

During the Apollo program , NASA also used the term "pericynthione" (after Cynthia , an epithet of Artemis , with which Selene is also identified).