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A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Uses of almanacs for astrology
From: Frank Reed CT
Date: 2004 Oct 20, 17:56 EDT
From: Frank Reed CT
Date: 2004 Oct 20, 17:56 EDT
George wrote:
"This is due to the ellipsoidal shape of the Earth."
Lisa added:
"Actually the earth is an oblate spheroid, sort of squashed at the top
and stretched at the equator."
They're essentially synonymous. Any cross-section of the Earth containing the Earth's axis of rotation is an ellipse. Hence the Earth's shape can be called "ellipsoidal". An ellipsoid of revolution where revolution is about the minor axis is, of course, an "oblate spheroid". Different ways of refering to the same shape.
Frank R
[ ] Mystic, Connecticut
[X] Chicago, Illinois
"This is due to the ellipsoidal shape of the Earth."
Lisa added:
"Actually the earth is an oblate spheroid, sort of squashed at the top
and stretched at the equator."
They're essentially synonymous. Any cross-section of the Earth containing the Earth's axis of rotation is an ellipse. Hence the Earth's shape can be called "ellipsoidal". An ellipsoid of revolution where revolution is about the minor axis is, of course, an "oblate spheroid". Different ways of refering to the same shape.
Frank R
[ ] Mystic, Connecticut
[X] Chicago, Illinois
