Answer to Question #1150 in Mechanics | Relativity for Stuart

Question

Why are satellite TV dishes (Dish, Direct TV, etc.) in the Northern Hemisphere pointed South and in the Southern Hemisphere pointed North? Why do we not put TV satellites above Texas where they belong?

Answer 1

All geostationary satellites were installed at a high altitude of 35,800 Km above the equator. On northern hemisphere, dish is faced toward south . On southern hemisphere, it is just the opposite way. (At equator, you have to point the dish upward.)