NASA Pinpoints Earth's Center of Mass with High Precision

New satellite tracking technique reveals tiny shifts in Earth's center due to seasonal water changes.

NASA scientists have achieved a breakthrough in tracking Earth's center of mass with unprecedented accuracy. Using ultraprecise satellite technology, they can now estimate shifts by fractions of an inch, as detailed in a study published in the Geophysical Journal International. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California led the development of this technique, which accounts for the seasonal redistribution of water on the planet. These shifts cause Earth's mass center to move several millimeters relative to its geometric center.