Why do celestial objects always appear spherical?

Answer 1

For the same reason that soap bubbles appear spherical. The sphere is the most efficient form caused by uniform gravitational effects.

Answer 2

Because all celestial bodies have gravity holding them together from the center. It has to do with potential energy. The farther from the center of gravity something is the more potential energy it has. So in a non-spherical or convoluted celestial body the matter at higher altitudes relative to the center of gravity would have higher potential energy, and would tend to "gravitate" to areas that are lower, or closer to the center. The result is an eventual evening out of these differences, resulting in all matter in the body being more or less evenly distributed around the center, forming a sphere.

In the case of asteroids and non-spherical satellites, their gravity is not strong enough to pull the matter to an even distribution.

Answer 3

do they? it's affected by the distortion of gravity to the object that's why it appears as if bent. who knows the celestial objects we see as spherical in shape are flat objects? let's take the planets' orbit.. they look to be elliptical but due to the distortion of gravity it appears to be like an ellipse. u'll study that when u reach your p6!

Answer 4

they are so far away, it's just a point of light...not spherical..Several years ago, Mars was very close to the Earth and with using ordinary binoculars, I could see Mars facing the sun in a cresent. I was amazed because, I was not just seeing the light as a point, but actually seeing the surface of Mars reflecting light.

Answer 5

Usually because they are.
Once they acquire a certain mass they have a strong enough gravity to force them into the most stable shape i.e. spherical.

Answer 6

because most of them are spherical
because they appear so small that we can see is only a dot