ORBITS

Gain an understanding of orbits and how scientists use different orbits to accomplish different goals.

Orbit Table

Launch marble “satellites” into “space” at this large orbit table. Choose different launchers with varying launch trajectories to observe different types of orbits, from standard circular types to highly elliptical orbits.

What Goes Around: Near Satellite

How do satellites map the Earth? Turn one of two cranks to send a polar satellite spinning about the Earth. Housed inside a Plexiglas box, a globe of the Earth is spinning on its axis. But this is not just any globe . . . it glows! Coated with a special phosphorescent paint, the surface of the globe lights up as the “satellite” orbits the Earth, leaving a glowing trail that mirrors the path of the “satellite.” Track the path along the Earth’s surface and watch how the combination of the Earth’s rotation and the satellite’s orbit allows scientists to observe and scan the entire surface of our planet in just one day!

What Goes Around: Be a Far Satellite

Become a high altitude satellite and discover the science behind geostationary (also called geosynchronous) orbits. At the top of the component, a lighted globe spins on its axis. On the ground, at approximately three feet from the surface of the globe, three projectors beam white light “satellites.” The distance between the globe and the “satellites” shows the relative distance a satellite must be from the Earth in order to be in geostationary orbit. By following the “satellites’” path, you become a geostationary satellite! Two of the workhorses of the EOS mission, GOES East and West, are both geostationary satellites. Most telecommunications satellites are also geostationary.

Eyes On Earth is produced and developed by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), funded by NASA and sponsored locally by Lockheed Martin and The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD).