Geosynchronous Orbit

In many sci-fi movies and TV shows, orbiting spacecraft take up “stationary” positions over New York, London, or some other major landmark. That’s not possible, though. It is possible to assume a stationary position — but only if the spacecraft is above the equator.
Such a spot is called a geosynchronous orbit. It’s achieved at an altitude of about 22,000 miles. At that distance, a craft’s orbital speed carries it around Earth in exactly one day. So the craft appears to “stand still” above a single spot on the equator.
Hundreds of craft have been placed in such orbits. Most of them are communications satellites. A geosynchronous orbit allows them to stay in constant range of the same tracking stations, so they provide unbroken service. Others are weather satellites, which can keep a constant eye on the same patch of ground.
A craft can’t remain stationary away from the equator because it always orbits the center of Earth’s mass — the center of the planet itself. So if you tried to plac