Comments on: Geosynchronous vs Geostationary Orbits

By: Ashwin Campbell

Ashwin Campbell — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 11:09:50 +0000

This really doesn’t make sense to me. If it’s geostationary I would assume that the satellite stays over one location in relation to earth and if it’s geosynchronous it rotates around the earth. Why do scientists always try to confuse us dumb folk?

By: Bob Q

Bob Q — Sat, 27 May 2023 04:33:04 +0000

How does the satellite slow down? If it has to travel 25,550 mph to leave Earth’s gravity field to reach 22,000 miles away, how does it slow down to 7000 mph and sync with the rotation of earth?

By: Isaf Ali

Isaf Ali — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 15:34:08 +0000

In the Geosynchronous Orbit section you state that “..if you are an observer on the ground, you would see the satellite as if it’s in a fixed position without movement” in relation to geosynchronous orbit. This statement is true in relation to geostationary orbit but not in relation to geosynchronous orbit.

By: Raajkumar SR

Raajkumar SR — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 10:54:03 +0000

There is no clear picture of geostationary orbit in terms of inclination and earth speed

By: Yared

Yared — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 09:47:37 +0000

Where is located the geosynchronous reference or coordinates or which real earth time calander?

By: Peter

Peter — Thu, 04 Jul 2019 00:56:12 +0000

I feel Pradeep Datta answer is incorrect as well. From an observers eye, there is NO possible way anyone could see a satellite the size of a small sedan.

By: RunawayPancake

RunawayPancake — Sun, 23 Dec 2018 14:43:59 +0000

Pradeep Datta’s comment above is correct with respect to inclined geosynchronous orbits. The article states that objects in a geosynchronous orbit don’t change position in the sky when viewed from Earth. This is true only if the object is in a geostationary orbit – a type of geosynchronous orbit that has 0° inclination with respect to the Equator. If the object is in a geosynchronouss orbit that is inclined with respect to the Equator, then the object will move in a figure eight pattern (aka an analemma) during the course of a sidereal day.

By: Bill S

Bill S — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 18:26:07 +0000

I agree with G this would be better represented if the earth were shown at its 23.5 deg angle.

By: Pradeep Datta

Pradeep Datta — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 20:14:10 +0000

I feel, the explanation above is slightly incorrect, or at least a bit confusing.

In case of Geosynchronous Orbit you wrote
“If you are an observer on the ground, you would see the satellite as if it’s in a fixed position without movement.”

This is not correct. in such an orbit, it is ONLY synchronous to the sidereal day (23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds), meaning the satellite will be at the same position after this time. The orbit may have an inclination (to the equator) or even eccentricity. For an observer on the ground, the satellite shall describe a figure of eight. If the inclination to the equator is equal to zero and eccentricity is also zero, it becomes the special case of being Geostationary Orbit and the figure of eight being described by it to an observer on the ground becomes small being equal to zero, such that it now and only now appears to be stationary in the sky.

By: ANIL

ANIL — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 06:06:54 +0000

Very good explanation