1 year orbit around Kerbin?

[RA3236]

Hi,

Basically, how high an orbit above Kerbin would you need to have a orbital period of one Kerbin year? Im trying not to blow up my space telescopes from CactEye.

[Streetwind]

You would have to orbit outside of Kerbin's SoI. In other words - this is not possible.

However, you could place your telescope just outside of Kerbin's SoI, in the exact orbit that Kerbin has. You would get an object that always stays in the same position relative to Kerbin, which is sort of the same as having an orbit around Kerbin of the same period as Kerbin's orbit around the sun.

[RA3236]

Oh, okay thanks  

Edited January 22, 2016 by RA3236

[Snark]

Main thing to be careful of, if you take that approach, is that unless your orbit's period perfectly matches Kerbin's, it will slowly drift towards or away from Kerbin.

The "towards" case is more problematic, because if it eventually gets too close and blunders into Kerbin's SoI, it will do so with nearly zero velocity relative to Kerbin. That, in turn, will result in falling nearly straight at the planet, with a high chance of doom.

That would happen "silently" in the background, with no warning to you; then later you have a "hey, where did my ship go?" moment. So keep an eye on it.