Term: | Apollo group |
Definition: |
A member of a class of near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) that have orbital semi-major axes greater than that of the Earth (> 1 astronomical unit) but perihelion distances less than the Earth's aphelion distance (less than 1.017 AU); thus, they cross the Earth's orbit when near the perihelia of their orbits. They are named for the prototype Apollo. |