The term ’syzygy’ is referred to when the
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Earth is at perihelion and moon at perigee
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Earth is at aphelion and moon at apogee
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Moon and sun are at right angles with reference to the earth
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Moon, sun and earth lie along a straight line
The position of the sun, the moon and the earth in a straight line is called Syzygy. When the sun, the moon and the earth are in sequential order in a straight line, in other words, when the sun and moon are in one side of earth, the position is called Conjuction (the situation of solar eclipse). When the position of the earth is in between the sun and moon, this is called opposition. On the other hand, when sun, the earth and the moon are in a position of a right angle, this position is called quadrature. The nearest position of the moon with the earth is called perigee when the distance between them is 3,56,000 km. The farthest position of the moon with the earth is apogee (4,07,000 km).