Q: Could planets that orbit other stars be non-spherical shapes, such as ovals or pears, depending on composition?
Rich Livitski
Seal Beach, California
A:Bodies large enough to be considered planets have enough mass that gravity molds them into a roughly spherical shape. The key word here is roughly — other factors also come into play, such as a planet’s composition (rocky or gassy) and its rate of spin. The faster a planet spins, the more its rotation causes it to bulge outward a