NASA clarifies Earth's true shape as a geoid, not a perfect sphere

NASA explained that the widely shared image of Earth resembling a "lumpy potato" is a visual exaggeration of the planet's geoid, a surface that follows equal gravitational potential. The geoid reflects subtle variations in Earth's gravity caused by uneven distribution of mass in the mantle, crust, oceans and mantle, making the planet slightly flattened at the poles and bulging under continents.

The model was created using data from the GRACE and GOCE satellite missions, with input from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and international partners. Scientist Michael Watkins noted that the graphic amplifies height differences by orders of magnitude so they can be seen with the naked eye, but in reality the variations are only a few meters across the globe. The agency emphasized that Earth remains essentially spherical, with the geoid serving as a crucial reference for sea‑level studies, oceanography and geophysical research.