The purpose of this project was to help settle the question regarding the shape of the Earth. Newton had deduced from his theory of gravitation that the Earth would be flattened at the poles.
Ang layunin ng proyektong ito ay upang matulungan ang tumira ang mga katanungan tungkol sa hugis ng Earth. Newton had deduced mula sa kanyang teorya ng grabitasyon na ang Earth ay magiging pipi at ang mga poles.