XPost: rec.arts.sf.written
On Sat, 11 Nov 2023 12:36:29 -0500, Mark Jackson
<
mjackson@alumni.caltech.edu> wrote:
On 11/11/2023 12:19 PM, Paul S Person wrote:
On Fri, 10 Nov 2023 14:22:36 -0600, Lynn McGuire
<lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
Frank and Ernest: Take the Long Way Home
https://www.gocomics.com/frank-and-ernest/2023/11/09
Science !
Any idea at what latitude the Earth would be 24,901 miles around?
Or at what angle the path would have to be tilted?
Or both?
According to https://www.space.com/17638-how-big-is-earth.html
"The equatorial circumference of Earth is 24,901 miles (40,075 km).
However, from the North Pole to the South Pole, the so-called meridional >circumference is smaller, at 24,860 miles (40,008 km). That reveals that
our planet is flattened at the poles, meaning its shape is an oblate >spheroid."
That suggests that the equitorial great circle is maximal, and those at
an angle would be smaller. Of course once one is talking about road
miles the circumnavigation distance will be significantly larger.
Thanks for the information.
So, "Frank and Ernest" is set ... on the Equator.
I would expect traveling along, say, the 40th parallel would be a
shorter trip.
Ignoring the road miles correction, about which you are correct.
--
"Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"
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