Based on a first-order perturbation solution in a modified Reynolds number, an analysis is presented to determine the fluid inertia effects on the stability characteristics of a spherical hydrostatic bearing that has continuous spherical surface. This analysis demonstrates that fluid inertia effects increase the stability threshold speed and that the increase in stability threshold depends on the inertia parameter δ=ρω²r₀²/p^★ (ρ=lubricant density, ω=rotational angular velosity, r₀=radius of sphere, p^★=ambient pressure). It is found that centrifugal effect on load capacity is much greater than the other inertial effects, whereas centrifugal effect on dynamic coefficients is much smaller than the other inertial effects.