Geostationary satellite
A geostationary satellite orbits 35,786 km above the equator in step with Earth's rotation, so from the ground it appears to hang motionless in the sky.
It is a special case of a geosynchronous orbit: geosynchronous means a 24-hour period, while geostationary adds a zero-inclination equatorial path so the satellite truly stays put.
That fixed position is why a satellite-TV dish never has to move once it is aimed.
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Related terms
- GEO — Geostationary orbit (GEO) is the circular orbit 35,786 km above the equator where a satellite's period exactly matches Earth's rotation, so it appears fixed over one spot.
- Orbital period — The orbital period is the time a satellite takes to complete one full orbit, set almost entirely by its altitude.
- Orbital inclination — Orbital inclination is the angle between a satellite's orbital plane and Earth's equator, measured in degrees.
