Synchronous orbits occur when the natural (sidereal) rotation of a body coincides with the orbital period of an object orbiting around it. When this happens, the relative position of the two objects stays the same over time. On Earth, we this would translate to an orbital period of around 24 hours, and the satellite in geosynchronous orbit would appear at the same position in the sky every year, every day, and every hour. Look up the mass of Saturn. If Saturn rotates once every 10 hours and 42 minutes, what semi-major axis do you need to be in a Saturn- synchronous orbit?

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Synchronous orbits occur when the natural (sidereal) rotation of a body coincides with the
orbital period of an object orbiting around it. When this happens, the relative position of the
two objects stays the same over time. On Earth, we this would translate to an orbital period of
around 24 hours, and the satellite in geosynchronous orbit would appear at the same position in
the sky every year, every day, and every hour. Look up the mass of Saturn. If Saturn rotates
once every 10 hours and 42 minutes, what semi-major axis do you need to be in a Saturn-
synchronous orbit? 

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