= Earth ellipsoid
{wiki=Earth_ellipsoid}
The Earth ellipsoid, also known as a reference ellipsoid, is a mathematical representation of the Earth's shape, which approximates it as an oblate spheroid. The Earth's rotation causes it to flatten slightly at the poles and bulge at the equator, making it not a perfect sphere. The ellipsoidal model provides a simplified way to describe the size and shape of the Earth for various applications, including mapping, navigation, and geodesy.
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