  Recent ineleastic electron-proton scattering experiments have led to rather
accurate values for the N->Delta transition quadrupole moment Q(N->Delta).The
experimental results imply a prolate (cigar-shaped) intrinsic deformation of
the nucleon. The nonsphericity of the proton's charge distribution might be
seen in the spectrum of atomic hydrogen. The possibilities and limitations for
determining the geometric shape of the nucleon in an atomic physics experiment
are discussed.
