What is the difference between geostationary and geosynchronous satellites?
A geostationary orbit (parking orbit) is where a satellite is circling the earth in the equitorial plane in an orbit concentric (having the same centre) with the earth and in the same direction of rotation and has a time period (time taken to complete one revolution) equal to that of the earth (approx. 24 hours). In simple terms, the satellite stays over the same spot all the time. A geosynchronous orbit may have a different period, and may be over different spots at different times. For mathematical analysis, see below: Suppose a satellite of mass m circling the earth in the equitorial plane is in an orbit concentric with the earth. If the direction of rotation is the same as that of the earth, and at a distance R from the centre of the earth, velovity V is given by: mV2/R = GMm/R2 (mV2 means m times V squared) (Newtons Law of Gravitation) where M is the mass of the earth. But GM=gr2 where r is the radius of the earth therefore, mv2/R = mgr2/R2 If the period of the satellite in its or
Geostationary is for a satellite to appear to remain perfectly stationary in the sky as seen from earth. In order for this to happen, it’s orbital period must perfectly match the earth’s 23 hour 56 minute day. As an added qualifier it must also be exactly above the equator (inclination of 0). Since to keep a satellite perfectly geostationary for a long amount of time would require too much fuel (in compensation for the gravity fields of other nonstationary bodies, the sun and moon) most satellites are geosynchronous, which allows for some deviation. In other words, geostationary is a perfectly spherical soap bubble and geosynchronous is your best attempt to make a ball out of play dough.
Hello! I want to be as specific as I can in answering your direct question, so I’ll leave out some facts on the general subject of orbits, many of which were covered below (math!) and focus as much as I can on the specifics of what you asked. . . As a matter of technical definition, a geostationary orbit is a special kind of geosynchronous orbit. The term geosynchronous defines a whole group of potential orbits, and geostationary is just one of the specific orbits from that group. First, the broader type: A geosynchronous orbit is any orbit that circles the earth in exactly one day or, as the wonks like to say, has an orbital period equal to the earth’s rotational period. In this situation “one day” is actually a more complicated definition than the sunrise/sunset one we usually use, called a “sidereal day,” but a sidereal day isn’t much different from our normal one, at 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4.091 seconds its length is just a little more specific to account for more factors than j
