Perigean spring tide Perigean spring tide A proxigean spring tide (also known as a perigean spring tide) is a tide that occurs three or four times per year when the Moon's perigee (its closest point to Earth during its 29.5-day elliptical orbit) coincides with a spring tide (when the Earth, Sun and Moon are nearly aligned every two weeks). This tide usually adds only a couple of inches to normal spring tides. The Moon's orbit around Earth is elliptical, which causes the Moon to be closer to Earth and farther away at different times. The Moon and the Sun are aligned every two
Polar orbit Polar orbit A polar orbit is one in which a satellite passes above or nearly above both poles of the body being orbited (usually a planet such as the Earth, but possibly another body such as the Moon or Sun) on each revolution. It therefore has an inclination of (or very close to) 90 degrees to the body's equator. A satellite in a polar orbit will pass over the equator at a different longitude on each of its orbits. Polar orbits are often used for earth-mapping, earth observation, capturing the earth as time passes from one point, reconnaissance satellites, as