You can see satellites in space just as clearly as you would on Earth – often even more clearly, thanks to the lack of light pollution higher in the atmosphere. But you do need to be nearby – our largest satellite appears like a tiny dot in the sky, even at a distance of only … Read more
Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered if what you’re seeing is a satellite or a star? You’re not alone. Satellites are often mistaken for stars because they appear to move slowly across the night sky. They can even be seen during the day, though they are much harder to spot … Read more
Moons are referred to as natural satellites because they naturally orbit around their respective planets Hill sphere (counterclockwise) . Artificial satellites, on the other hand, are manually placed in specific regions of space to orbit Earth, Saturn, Jupiter, etc. to deliver services, whether images, telecommunication, or weather reports for scientific and recreational use. For a … Read more
Most satellites when acting on their own will travel around their respective planet in the same direction of the planet’s axial rotation, which will be from west to east (counterclockwise). This includes moons and artificial satellites orbiting any given planet however, the gas giants have multiple moons orbiting them in a retrograde motion, which would … Read more