eli5: I’ve heard orbit described as continuously falling past or missing the Earth, how then do objects in geosynchronous orbit above a single point not fall out of the sky?

Question

eli5: I’ve heard orbit described as continuously falling past or missing the Earth, how then do objects in geosynchronous orbit above a single point not fall out of the sky?

In: 2204

Answer 1

I just want to add that the geosynchronous orbit that stays in one point is the geostationary orbit, a specific kind that is circular and matches the equatorial plane.

But there are other kinds of geosynchronous orbits that don’t stay in one point, instead they do a figure eight with a loop on every hemisphere and the crossing point on the equator. The figure stays in place though that’s why it’s still geosynchronous.

This is because orbits can’t stay at a fixed latitude (other than the equator), they have to cross the equatorial plane periodically.