Geostationary orbit

ID: geostationary-orbit

A geostationary orbit is a prograde equatorial circular Kepler orbit whose orbital period equals one sidereal day, so its satellite remains above a fixed location on Earth's equator. It is the terrestrial case of a planet-stationary orbit. Its radius follows from Newton's law of universal gravitation and circular acceleration: , approximately from Earth's centre. Its altitude above the surface is smaller by Earth's radius.
A geostationary orbit is a specific type of geosynchronous orbit that allows a satellite to remain in a fixed position relative to the surface of the Earth. This means that a satellite in a geostationary orbit appears to be stationary over a specific point on the Earth's equator.

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