geodesy
/dʒiˈɒd.ɪ.si/
Definition
The branch of earth sciences concerned with the precise measurement and representation of the Earth's geometric shape, orientation in space, and gravity field.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek 'geōdaisia', combining 'gē' (earth) and 'daiesthai' (to divide). It entered English to describe the mathematical determination of the Earth's dimensions through surveying and mapping.
In the news
The word appears in a website category listing alongside mapping and cartography to describe technical fields relevant to astrobiology and planetary science. It highlights the importance of precise spatial measurement when characterizing environments on other planets.
New Deadline For NASA Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon) Announcement for Partnership Proposals (AFPP)
Read the full article ↗Astrobiology Web