geostationary

Meanings

1. 1adjectivebefore a nountechnical

   Describing an orbit in which a satellite stays above the same point on Earth.

   Grammar: Used before a noun: geostationary orbit, geostationary satellite.

   Patterns

   • geostationary orbit
   • geostationary satellite

   Weather satellites often sit in a geostationary orbit.

   A geostationary satellite appears fixed in the sky.

   The company launched a geostationary satellite for television broadcasts.

2. 2adjectivebefore a nountechnical

   Relating to a satellite that remains over the same spot because it orbits at a specific height above the equator.

   Grammar: Often used in phrases like 'in geostationary orbit'.

   Patterns

   • in geostationary orbit
   • place something in geostationary orbit

   The telescope is not geostationary; it moves around the Earth.

   Engineers calculated the exact height needed for a geostationary path.

   Only satellites above the equator can be geostationary.

Common combinations

geostationary orbit

The satellite was placed in a geostationary orbit.

geostationary satellite

A geostationary satellite provides constant coverage of one region.

geostationary transfer orbit

The rocket first entered a geostationary transfer orbit.

in geostationary orbit

The dish points at a satellite in geostationary orbit.

Synonyms and how they differ

geosynchronous

Geosynchronous is a broader term; a geosynchronous satellite may drift slightly, while a geostationary one stays fixed.

Word family

geostationary orbit noun

The path itself, often called the Clarke orbit.

Commonly confused: geostationary or geosynchronous?

Practice

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