| Term: | geostationary/GEO orbit |
| Definition: |
A circular orbit at zero inclination directly above Earth's equator with an orbital period of 23 hr, 56 min and 4 sec. To a ground observer a geostationary satellite appears always at the same point in the sky. Geostationary orbits are a subset of geosynchronous orbits. Both orbits match Earth's rate of rotation measured relative to distant "fixed" stars. |