A circular Kepler orbit at radius has speed and mean motion .
A satellite remaining above a fixed point of a uniformly rotating spherical planet must have a prograde equatorial circular Kepler orbit with angular speed . Balancing gravitational acceleration and centripetal acceleration gives the displayed radius and speed . The satellite's own mass cancels. A physically realizable external orbit additionally requires this radius to exceed the planet's radius.
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.

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  1. Kepler orbit
  2. Celestial mechanics
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