[net.math] Length of Geodesic on

georg1@hound.UUCP (G.KARAWAS) (11/20/85)

Does anyone have a reference for the  EXACT  calculation  of
the  length  of  (the)  geodesic  between  two points on the
surface of a (rotational) ellipsoid?  Is it  expressible  in
terms of elliptic integrals?
Geodesy  books  give  a  lot  of   formulas,   with   little
explanation.   Books  on  Differential  Geometry  state  the
differential equations for the geodesics with no solution.
Any information will be greatly appreciated.