What is the distance from a satellite to a user referred to as?

The term used to refer to the distance from a satellite to a user is known as "pseudo range." This measurement is critical in satellite navigation systems such as GPS. Pseudo range is the calculated distance from a satellite to the receiver, which includes the effects of transmission time delays and other factors affecting signal travel, such as atmospheric delays and clock errors. Essentially, it represents the apparent distance derived from the time it takes for a signal to travel between the satellite and the user, adjusted for any discrepancies in timing.

Understanding pseudo range is fundamental because it forms the basis for determining a receiver's position by calculating how far away each satellite is and thus enabling triangulation of the user’s exact location. It is a crucial concept in the functioning of satellite navigation and is indicative of the technology's reliance on precise timing and synchronization between the satellites and the user’s device.