The concept of a “round planet” typically refers to the understanding that Earth and many other celestial bodies are spherical in shape. Nothing has happened to change the round shape of Earth; it remains an oblate spheroid due to its rotation.
In more detail, the term “round planet” is often used to describe the shape of Earth as perceived from space. The planet’s roundness is a result of gravity, which pulls matter into a spherical shape. However, because Earth is not a perfect sphere but rather an oblate spheroid, it is slightly flattened at the poles and bulges at the equator. This shape is caused by the planet’s rotation, which generates centrifugal force that acts against gravity, causing the equatorial bulge.
The understanding of Earth’s round shape dates back to ancient times, with early astronomers and philosophers theorizing and eventually proving the planet’s sphericity. The concept was solidified with the advent of space exploration, which provided direct visual evidence of Earth’s round shape through photographs taken from space.
In the context of other celestial bodies, many planets, moons, and stars are also round due to the same gravitational forces that shape Earth. However, smaller bodies like asteroids and comets may not be round because their gravity is not strong enough to pull them into a spherical shape.
The roundness of Earth and other planets is a fundamental aspect of our understanding of the universe and remains unchanged. Any suggestion that something has happened to the round planet Earth would likely be a misunderstanding or a reference to a hypothetical scenario rather than a real event.
