Satellites Help Us Understand the Universe and Our Planet

By Juan Esteban Palma, age 12

When you think of a satellite, you might picture a machine that humans sent to space that orbits the Earth, but it’s so much more. For example, even the Earth is a satellite because it orbits the Sun. The Moon is also a satellite since it orbits the Earth. Satellites help us learn about space and study planets, stars, and galaxies.

A satellite is anything that orbits something larger, like a planet, moon, or even a star. While our planet and the Moon are both natural satellites, the word is also used to describe a human-made machine that orbits the Earth.

Thousands of artificial satellites orbit the Earth today. These satellites help scientists study space, galaxies, and the universe. Some satellites take pictures of the Earth for meteorologists, who aim to understand and predict Earth’s weather. Other satellites observe distant galaxies, stars, and even phenomena such as black holes. All this information helps scientists better understand the solar system and outer space.

Satellites are not only used for studying space and Earth, but they are also critical for communication. They transmit phone calls, texts, and TV signals. Have you ever tried to use your GPS to go somewhere or to find your favorite store or park? All of these signals work because of satellites.

[Source: National Geographic]