A geosynchronous or geostationary satellite is actually moving relative to the planet earth However the rate of fall is matched as closely as possible to the earth’s rate of spin around its axis The net result is that the satellite appears to stay over the same spot on the earth

     It used to be the main European satellite until replaced by the newer METEOSAT-7      It was moved over the Indian Ocean as part of the multinational INDOEX exercise      The data stream is encrypted, however JTWC is able to get some imagery from this satellite for use over the Indian Ocean tropical cyclone basin

This graphic shows how the second descending pass from this polar orbiting satellite is shifted roughly 25 degrees longitude west of the first pass

This graphic shows the satellite subtrack of a single polar orbiting satellite as it covers the entire earth in roughly 14 orbits      Because the swath of the visible and IR sensors is only smaller than the apparent westward shift of the satellite, there is a coverage gap between successive passes

This graphic shows the relative distances from the earth of a geostationary and a polar orbiting satellite      You should be able to see why cheaper polar orbiting satellites can provide similar or better resolution than extremely expensive, precise geostationary sensors