Meaning
It is a circular orbit around the Earth in which a satellite moves at the same angular speed as the Earth’s rotation. Because of this, the satellite appears fixed over one point on the equator when seen from the ground.
Main features
• Orbit is directly above the equator
• Satellite appears stationary relative to the Earth
• It is a type of geosynchronous orbit
• Orbital period is about 24 hours, matching Earth’s rotational period
• Approximate altitude is 35,786 km above the Earth
Why it is important
GEO is useful for services that require continuous coverage of the same region, such as:
• communication satellites
• television broadcasting
• weather monitoring
• meteorology
• some strategic and surveillance uses
Difference from geosynchronous orbit
• Geosynchronous orbit means the satellite takes the same time as Earth to complete one orbit
• Geostationary orbit is a special type of geosynchronous orbit in which the satellite is circular, equatorial, and appears fixed over one point
So, every GEO is geosynchronous, but every geosynchronous orbit is not geostationary.
Key point
A satellite in GEO must be:
• in a circular orbit
• in the equatorial plane
• moving with Earth’s rotational period
GEO, or Geostationary Earth Orbit, is the orbit in which a satellite appears stationary over the same point on Earth, making it highly useful for communication and weather satellites.
