apogée

Noun

apogee (plural apogees)

1. The point, in an orbit about the Earth, that is farthest from the Earth: the apoapsis of an Earth orbiter.
2. (broadly) The point, in an orbit about any planet, that is farthest from the planet: the apoapsis of any satellite.
   • Conjunctions of I and II [Io and Europa] occur when they are near perigee and apogee respectively; conjunctions of II and III [Europa and Ganymede] occur when II [Europa] is near perigee.1995, John H. Rogers, The Giant Planet Jupiter, Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 335
3. (possibly archaic outside astrology) The point, in any trajectory of an object in space, where it is farthest from the Earth.
4. (figuratively) The highest point.
   • Another manifestation, significantly reaching its apogee in the midst of Antonine virtues, was the growing popularity of adoxographical exercises. Mock panegyrics were dashed off, not just by sardonic intellectuals such as Lucian, but also by trained courtiers and polished encomiasts of the stamp...1979, Carl Deroux, editor, Studies in Latin Literature and Roman History [Collection Latomus; 164], volume 1, Brussels: Latomus, →OCLC, page 111

   Synonyms:

   acme, climax, culmination, pinnacle, zenith