Topology of Earth surface and distance to the Sun

from elementary data by amateur measures on its

surface
by TK

1 Presentation of the problem

1.1 The question
Shape of the Earth and distance to the Sun is quite well known since Antiquity. However, since
the XIX centuty modern flat earthers are supporting the idea that the Earth is flat, with a
close Sun, supposing a global conspiracy to maintain the globe fallacy.
How to get a good idea of the real shape of the Earth?

1.2 Proposition
Average people of any belief will be invited to make simple measures of the Sun height in the
sky, at given time, from their own location. Those data will be collected and used to fit into
both globe and flat model. It is expected that one of the model wont be able to converge, if
enough reliable data are feeded into it, while the other one will converge to a coherent and
stable map of the Earth as it is.

1.3 Models
1.3.1 The Globe in the Heliocentric model
The Earth is represented by a sphere of floating radius. Cicies will be radomly scattered on it.
Convergeance of the model will be nocited by a stable radius and cities distribution on the
globe. Definitive proof will be given by a compatible radius and location according to official
maps.
1.3.2 A Flat Earth model
Earth is a flat plane of large size, the Sun is a a finite floating distance above it.
Convergeance of the model will be nocited by a stable distance to Sun and cities distribution
on the surface. Definitive proof will be given by a coherent but incompatible distance to Sun
and distribution of cities according to official cosmology and map.

2 Implementation
2.1 Measures
To keep users task easy, measure will only concern the length of the shadow cast by a stick of
known height.
Users will be invited to fill the measures database by events of the form:

User name

Time of measure

Location of measure

Lenght of stick
1

Section 3

Length of cast shadow

Picture of the set with EXIF data

The database should be accessible in reading by anyone, with an easy way to dump raw data for
independent analysis.

2.2 Analysis
Both models will be feed with the data and try to set the free parameters so that to have the
lowest chi-square error on the dataset.

3 Conclusion
Depending on the convergeance of the data, both mdel will be plausible (unlikely), one will prevail or none will fit.