GOES 16
GOES-16 is a US geostationary weather satellite parked about 35,786 km above the equator, where it appears fixed over the Americas. It provides the continuous full-disk imagery of Earth used in weather broadcasts and hurricane tracking.
Orbital data
- NORAD ID
- 41866
- COSPAR ID
- 2016-071A
- Type
- Weather
- Orbit
- GEO
- Perigee (lowest)
- 35,791 km
- Apogee (highest)
- 35,797 km
- Inclination
- 0.31°
- Orbital period
- 1436 min
- Launch year
- 2016
- Operator
- United States
Orbital data from CelesTrak, refreshed every 2 hours. Element epoch: 2026-06-05.
About GEO orbit
Geostationary Orbit. Exactly 35,786 km above the equator. Satellites here orbit at the same rate Earth rotates, so they appear stationary in the sky. Used for TV, weather, and communications.
Frequently asked
Why does GOES-16 stay over the same spot?
It orbits at geostationary altitude, where its orbital period exactly matches Earth's rotation, so it appears stationary in the sky and can watch the same region continuously.
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