point of flattening
1geoid — geoidal, adj. /jee oyd/, n. 1. an imaginary surface that coincides with mean sea level in the ocean and its extension through the continents. 2. the geometric figure formed by this surface, an ellipsoid flattened at the poles. [1880 85; < Gk… …
2Map projection — A medieval depiction of the Ecumene (1482, Johannes Schnitzer, engraver), constructed after the coordinates in Ptolemy s Geography and using his second map projection A map projection is any method of representing the surface of a sphere or other …
3Geodetic system — For other uses, see Geodetic. Geodesy Fundamentals …
4Meridian arc — In geodesy, a meridian arc measurement is a highly accurate determination of the distance between two points with the same longitude. Two or more such determinations at different locations then specify the shape of the reference ellipsoid which… …
5Geodesy — (pronEng|dʒiːˈɒdɪsi [OED] ), also called geodetics, a branch of earth sciences, is the scientific discipline that deals with the measurement and representation of the Earth, including its gravitational field, in a three dimensional time varying… …
6Reference ellipsoid — In geodesy, a reference ellipsoid is a mathematically defined surface that approximates the geoid, the truer figure of the Earth, or other planetary body.Because of their relative simplicity, reference ellipsoids are used as a preferred surface… …
7Longitude — For Dava Sobel s book about John Harrison, see Longitude (book). For the adaptation of Sobel s book, see Longitude (TV series). Map of Earth Longitude (λ) Lines of longitude appear vertical with varying curvature in this projection, but are… …
8cosmos — /koz meuhs, mohs/, n., pl. cosmos, cosmoses for 2, 4. 1. the world or universe regarded as an orderly, harmonious system. 2. a complete, orderly, harmonious system. 3. order; harmony. 4. any composite plant of the genus Cosmos, of tropical… …
9World Geodetic System — The World Geodetic System defines a reference frame for the earth, for use in geodesy and navigation. The latest revision is WGS 84 dating from 1984 (last revised in 2004), which will be valid up to about 2010.Earlier schemes included WGS 72, WGS …
10Figure of the Earth — An oblate spheroid Geodesy …
