What is the highest point of an orbit known as?

The highest point of an orbit is commonly referred to as apogee. This term specifically denotes the point at which an object in orbit is farthest from the Earth when the orbit is elliptical. The understanding of different orbital terms is important for grasping the dynamics of satellite movements and the forces acting upon them.

In orbital mechanics, apogee applies to orbits around Earth. It’s essential to distinguish this from related terms such as perigee, which is the closest point to Earth, or apoapsis, a more general term that describes the highest point in any orbit around any celestial body. When discussing orbits around the Sun or other bodies, terms like aphelion (for the farthest point from the Sun) would apply. However, in the context of Earth-based orbits, apogee is the appropriate term used to indicate the highest altitude—demonstrating a critical aspect of orbital physics.