Periapsis angular speed (${\dot{\theta }}_{\mathrm{peri}}$)

The specific angular momentum of an elliptic Kepler orbit is $h=\sqrt{\mu a(1-e^2)}$. At periapsis, $r=a(1-e)$, soThe mean motion understates instantaneous angular speed near periapsis. A particle in an exterior mean-motion resonance can briefly overtake the planet in angle despite completing full orbits more slowly.