A satellite in a geostationary orbit circles the earth once every 24 hours, the same amount of time it takes for Earth to spin on its axis. GOES satellites A geostationary satellite turns eastward along the equator. For an infrared picture, warmer objects appear darker than colder objects.
Infrared sensors pick up data both day and night.
Heat-producing areas, such as warm water currents or cities are bright spots on infrared images. Clouds appear in varying shades of grey, depending on their temperature, which is determined by their height above Earth. Clouds appear white to us because they reflect light. Since visible imagery depends on available light, it can only be detected during the day. Atmospheric water vapor is an important factor in determining local weather and global climate.