SOLAR SYSTEM

Detailed explanation-1: -A geostationary satellite orbits the Earth over the equator, approximately 22, 000 miles up. At that altitude, one complete trip around the Earth relative to the sun takes 24 hours. These satellites remain over the same spot on the Earth’s surface at all times.

Detailed explanation-2: -The period of a geostationary satellite is the same as the period of rotation of earth which is approximately equal to 24 hours or 1 day. A geostationary satellite appears to be stationary w.r.t the earth, hence the name.

Detailed explanation-3: -In reality, the satellite may orbit Earth once every hour-and-a-half or so, going around many times per day. An example of satellites in polar orbit are the three POES* satellites. Putting the images from the three satellites together, it takes only six hours to get pictures of just about every square inch of Earth.

Detailed explanation-4: -GEO (Geostationary Earth Orbit) at about 36, 000km above the earth’s surface. LEO (Low Earth Orbit) at about 500-1500km above the earth’s surface. MEO (Medium Earth Orbit) or ICO (Intermediate Circular Orbit) at about 6000-20, 000 km above the earth’s surface.