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geodesy
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geodesy
Image shows a sketch of the Earth on graph paper with a photo of the Earth in the background. Blue arrows point to the sketch and the word FAKE? appears above in red letters.
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Cross section of Earth showing the core, mantle, and crust
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Cross section of Earth showing the core, mantle, and crust
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geodesy
geodesy Geodetic control mark set into the ground.

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geodesy, scientific discipline concerned with the precise figure of the Earth and its determination and significance. Until the advent of satellites, all geodesic work was based on land surveys made by triangulation methods employing a geodesic coordinate system (one used to study the geometry of curved surfaces). It is now possible to use satellites in conjunction with the land-based system to refine knowledge of the Earth’s shape and dimensions; this endeavour is sometimes termed satellite geodesy.

Image shows a sketch of the Earth on graph paper with a photo of the Earth in the background. Blue arrows point to the sketch and the word FAKE? appears above in red letters.
Earth Is Round, But Flat-Earthers Still ExistCan we prove the Earth is round? Well, yes.
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The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Meg Matthias.