Apogee
The point of the Moon’s orbit at which the Moon is furthest from the Earth. If the Moon stands in front of an Earth or Water constellation, the biodynamic calendar records a flower impulse.
What is apogee?
Apogee is the point of the Moon’s orbit furthest from the Earth. Its counterpart is perigee, the closest point. At apogee the centres of Earth and Moon are about 404,000 to 406,700 km apart. In 2027 the range runs from 404,173 km on 27 April to 406,604 km on 7 January.
From one apogee to the next takes 27.55 days on average. At apogee the Moon moves most slowly in front of the constellations and appears smallest. A Full Moon close to apogee is the smallest of the year, in 2027 the Full Moon on 18 July.
Apogee in the biodynamic calendar
Biodynamic practice sees an impulse around apogee that resembles a flower day. Dyyna records it from nine hours before to three hours after apogee, and only when the Moon stands in front of a constellation of the Earth or Water element. In front of Warmth and Light constellations the day type stays as it is.
The impulse is added to the Moon’s day type and blocks nothing. The calendar counts perigee as unfavourable.
In 2027 the Moon at apogee stands alternately in front of Sagittarius (Warmth) and Capricorn (Earth). So the flower impulse occurs 8 times in the year, always with the Moon in Capricorn.
Apogee 2027
| Date | Time | Distance | Moon in front of | Impulse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Jan | 9:08 | 406,604 km | Sagittarius | – |
| 3 Feb | 14:31 | 406,188 km | Sagittarius | – |
| 3 Mar | 6:39 | 405,217 km | Sagittarius | – |
| 31 Mar | 3:30 | 404,330 km | Sagittarius | – |
| 27 Apr | 23:18 | 404,173 km | Sagittarius | – |
| 25 May | 17:12 | 404,804 km | Capricorn | Flower, 8:12 – 20:12 |
| 22 Jun | 7:09 | 405,696 km | Capricorn | Flower, 22:09 (21 Jun) – 10:09 |
| 19 Jul | 13:53 | 406,209 km | Capricorn | Flower, 4:53 – 16:53 |
| 15 Aug | 16:21 | 406,082 km | Capricorn | Flower, 7:21 – 19:21 |
| 12 Sep | 1:38 | 405,384 km | Capricorn | Flower, 16:38 (11 Sep) – 4:38 |
| 9 Oct | 17:48 | 404,533 km | Capricorn | Flower, 8:48 – 20:48 |
| 6 Nov | 12:40 | 404,184 km | Capricorn | Flower, 3:40 – 15:40 |
| 4 Dec | 9:43 | 404,661 km | Capricorn | Flower, 0:43 – 12:43 |
Times for Central Europe (CET, CEST in summer). The “Impulse” column shows the window of the flower impulse where it applies.
Sources
- Apsis, Wikipedia
- Orbital data: Jean Meeus, Astronomical Algorithms, 2nd edition, Willmann-Bell 1998
Frequently asked questions about apogee
What does apogee mean in a moon calendar?
The moment at which the Moon is furthest from the Earth. Around this time the biodynamic calendar records a flower impulse if the Moon stands in front of an Earth or Water constellation.
Is apogee unfavourable for sowing?
The calendar counts perigee as unfavourable. Depending on the constellation, apogee brings an additional flower impulse or leaves the day type unchanged.
How far away is the Moon at apogee?
About 404,000 to 406,700 km from centre to centre. In 2027 it is furthest on 7 January at 406,604 km.