When we talk about satellites, there are different orbits they can occupy. These orbits can have different radii, but some of them are affected by nearby astronomical bodies (like planets or moons). In this note, we'll explore two key orbits: polar orbit and geosynchronous orbit.

• Satellites in polar orbits are close to Earth's surface.
• These satellites orbit over Earth's poles in a single plane, intersecting the Earth's center.
• As Earth rotates beneath the satellite, over a 24-hour period, the satellite can view every point on Earth.

Real-world example: Earth observation satellites used for weather forecasting and monitoring natural disasters often use polar orbits.

• These satellites orbit at much greater distances from Earth.
• They have orbital times equal to one sidereal day (about 24 hours), so they stay in the same area of the sky.
• The orbit typically follows a figure-of-eight pattern above a specific region of the planet.

Real-world example: Communication satellites often use geosynchronous orbits to provide constant coverage to specific areas on Earth.