What is the equatorial radius of the ellipsoid called?
major axi
And what is the semi-minor axis?
polar distances
Distances from where?
centre
Does the Earth's moon or Jupiter have a more elliptical orbit?
yes
What is a reference ellipsoid?
used as a preferred surface
What is it?
on which geodetic network computations are performed
Why are they a desired surface?
relative simplicity
What type of computations are done on them?
geodetic network computations
What kind of coordinates are used from reference ellipsoids?
point coordinates
Who wrote the Principia?
Isaac Newton
When?
1687
What term did he use there?
oblate spheroid
What is the current term now?
ellipsoid
Where are current ellipsoids centered?
at the actual center of mass of the Earth