ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Geosynchronous satellite

A geosynchronous satellite is a special type of satellite that orbits the Earth at a height of about 22,000 miles. It is so high up that it takes exactly one day for it to complete one orbit around the Earth, which is the same amount of time it takes for the Earth to complete one rotation on its own axis.

Think of it like a merry-go-round. You know when you're on a merry-go-round and it keeps going around and around? Well, the Earth is like a big merry-go-round, and the geosynchronous satellite is like a special toy that moves around the merry-go-round very slowly, so that it always stays in the same place above the ground.

These satellites are really useful because they can provide us with things like satellite TV and GPS navigation. Because the satellite always stays in the same place above the ground, it can send a constant signal to our TV or GPS device, which means we can always get a strong signal.

So, the next time you watch your favorite TV show or use your GPS to navigate somewhere, remember that there is a geosynchronous satellite way up in space that is helping make it all possible!