geostationary orbit

Circular path 35,900 km/22,300 mi above the Earth's Equator on which a satellite takes 24 hours, moving from west to east, to complete an orbit, thus appearing to hang stationary over one place on the Earth's surface. Geostationary orbits are used particularly for communications satellites and weather satellites. Their use for communications satellites was first suggested by the English space writer Arthur C Clarke. A geosynchronous orbit lies at the same distance from Earth but is inclined to the Equator.