Synchronous orbit
Encyclopedia : S : SY : SYN : Synchronous orbit
A synchronous orbit is an orbit in which an orbiting body (usually a satellite) has a period equal to the average rotational period of the body being orbited (usually a planet), and in the same direction of rotation as that body.
A satellite in a synchronous orbit that is both equatorial and circular will appear to be suspended motionless above a point on the orbited planet's equator. However, a synchronous orbit need not be equatorial, nor circular. A body in a nonequatorial synchronous orbit will appear to oscillate north and south above a point on the planet's equator, while a body in an elliptical orbit will appear to oscillate eastward and westward. The combination of these two motions produces a figure-8 pattern as seen from the orbited body.
A synchronous orbit about the Earth that is circular and lies in the equatorial plane is called a geostationary orbit.
An astronomical example is Pluto's moon Charon.
Source: From Federal Standard 1037C
See also
- Compare synchronous rotation.
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.