The two types of satellites used for weather observations are geostationary and polar orbiting. Geostationary satellites remain above a fixed point on the Earth’s equator by traveling at a speed that matches that of the planet’s spin; polar orbiting satellites circle the Earth from pole to pole. These satellites orbit at a speed so that, two times a day, they are over the exact same spot on the planet in what is called a “Sun-synchronous” orbit.