What is meant by a geostationary satellite?

Satellite that appears to be located at a fixed point in space when viewed from the earth’s surface. Satellites located in geosynchronous orbit move in time with the rotation of the earth.

What do geocentric orbit type satellites do?

An orbit which combines altitude and inclination in such a way that the satellite passes over any given point of the planet’s surface at the same local solar time. Such an orbit can place a satellite in constant sunlight and is useful for imaging, spy, and weather satellites.

What is the difference between satellite and geostationary satellite?

While geosynchronous satellites can have any inclination, the key difference to geostationary orbit is the fact that they lie on the same plane as the equator. While the geostationary orbit lies on the same plane as the equator, the geosynchronous satellites have a different inclination.

What is the height of LEO?

Low-Earth orbit (often known as LEO) encompasses Earth-centered orbits with an altitude of 2,000 km (1,200 mi) or less.

How high up are GPS satellites?

GPS satellites fly in circular orbits at an altitude of 10,900 nautical miles (20,200 km) and with a period of 12 hours.

Is geosynchronous and geostationary same?

In technical terminology, the geosynchronous orbits are often referred to as geostationary if they are roughly over the equator, but the terms are used somewhat interchangeably. Specifically, geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) may be a synonym for geosynchronous equatorial orbit, or geostationary Earth orbit.

Do geosynchronous satellites move?

This special, high Earth orbit is called geosynchronous. A satellite in a circular geosynchronous orbit directly over the equator (eccentricity and inclination at zero) will have a geostationary orbit that does not move at all relative to the ground. It is always directly over the same place on the Earth’s surface.