Satellite orbit height question?

Question

on holiday in devon last week, in the night me and me old man sat outside the place we stayed and sorta stared into space. we noticed what we presumed to be visible satellites going over in the sky above us. got us thinking, what height do these visible satellites orbit at, at what is their function?

anyone info would be appreciated

Answer 1

about 150 miles up.

if they do not seem to move from the same spot in the sky, then these are in  geostationary orbit. (in sync with earth)

if they are moving from south to north or north to south, then these are usually spy sats.

Answer 2

were you both p.issed?..next time on holiday lay off the scrumpy

Answer 3

The international space station orbits every 2 hours at 200 miles over the earth it may have been that

Answer 4

The satellites that have the Communication Satellites are on the Clarke belt and in Geostationary Orbit i.e. the point at which the satellite will not drift out into space neither fall down to Earth. Arthur C. Clarke devised this belt. These are at a distance of 35,786 Kilometres from Earth. What you saw were probably weather satellites that orbit at a much closer distance to Earth, i.e. 160 - 2000 km (100 - 1240 miles) above the Earth's surface. This altitude is significant because it produces an orbital period equal to the Earth's period of rotation, known as the sidereal day.

Answer 5

types of satellites :-

1. Astronomy satellite :- this type of satellite is used for collecting astronomical data about the universe.

e.g hubble telescope.

2. Atmospheric study satellites :- this type of satellites are used for studying earth atmosphere such as study of ionosphere.these satellites are low orbit satellites.

e.g. polar satellite.

3. Communication satellite :- communication satellites are used for transmitting radio, television and telephone signal from one part of earth to another.

e.g. Anik satellite.

4. navigation satellite :- these satellites are used for help in navigation of ships, planes etc.

gps system is an example.

e.g. Navstar.

5. Reconnaissance satellites :- these satellites are used for spying over enemy countries from space.

6.Remote sensing satellites :- So, remote sensing satellites are usually put into space to monitor resources important for humans. For example, remote sensing satellites might track animal migration, locate mineral deposits, watch agricultural crops for weather damage, or see how fast the forests are being cut down.

e.g. radarsat

7.Search and rescue satellites :- Search and rescue satellites are designed to provide a way for vessels at sea and in the air to communicate from remote areas. These satellites can detect and locate emergency beacons carried by ships, aircrafts, or individuals in remote or dangerous places.

e.g. Cospas-Sarsat

8. weather satellite :- these satellites help me finding out the weather of any place around the world

e.g. meteosat.

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satellite may be of low orbit or high orbit.

the highest orbit is 36,000 km above earth and the satellites in this orbit are known as geostationary satellites.

Answer 6

The typical visible satellite will be in a low earth orbit from about 150 miles to 450 miles high.  The Hubble Space telescope orbits at about 365 miles and can be seen.  The Space Station is at about 240 miles and is very bright at times.  In fact, I went out last night where I live and was the brightest I have ever seen it.

You can go the the website in the following link and find out when the ISS or other satellites might be visible.

http://www.heavens-above.com/

Answer 7

about 240 miles

the international space station can be seen with the naked eye, maybe it was that.