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A comment on Track Europe's falling, 2,000-pound satellite in real-time. Parent comment

Re:Track Europe's falling, 2,000-pound satellite in real-time by lostlogin on Saturday November 09, 2013 @04:41PM (#6703384)
Could you explain that figure to me please? Everest isn't nearly that high, so are you starting at the bottom of a trench? Surely the meaningful low point is the lowest point (be it the sea or some other low point) that the inbound fiery ball could hit?
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Re:Track Europe's falling, 2,000-pound satellite in real-time by shawnz on Saturday November 09, 2013 @06:18PM (#6704007)
The earth is not spherical. The diameter of the earth through the equator is more than the diameter through the poles, because of its angular velocity. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figure_of_the_Earth
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