Topic: Gravity satellite yields 'Potato Earth' view

[sam]

It looks like a giant potato in space.

And yet, the information in this model is the sharpest view we have of how gravity varies across the Earth.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12911806

[Clive]

It makes Earth look like an under-inflated football, but it's good to see some results from GOCE. 

[Rik]

Quick way to lose weight, there, move south.

[Simon]

[GillE]

How intriguing - I never knew gravity could vary.  Since much of our astronomy measures the effect gravity has on the light spectrum, could it be that some of the data we have gathered isn't as accurate as we have assumed?

[Clive]

GOCE is just monitoring the Earth's gravity Gill, and is in very low orbit.  The idea is to try and use the data to predict earthquakes.  Gravity is still the most enigmatic force in the Universe.

[sam]

How intriguing - I never knew gravity could vary.  Since much of our astronomy measures the effect gravity has on the light spectrum, could it be that some of the data we have gathered isn't as accurate as we have assumed?

Its not so much we measure the effect of gravity on light as we use electromagnetic waves to measure matter which then allows us to infer the gravitational force. This, however, is different in the field of gravitational lensing where one is measuring the effect of the gravitational force on light - but this is one small subject inside of astronomy.