Globes are a model of a spheroid, with many types available. They are a great alternative to flat maps, with no distortion issues. They can be made of paper, metal, or other materials, and can show political boundaries, topography, or celestial bodies. Virtual globes offer advantages such as integrating a lot of information.
A globe is a model of a spheroid, usually of the Earth or another celestial body. They are a wonderful alternative to flat maps because they don’t have the distortion issues that exist with traditional maps. There are many different types, ranging from simple to very complex and accurate.
The most common type of globe maps the Earth. Within this area, there are a number of different types, each with their own advantages and limitations. An ordinary Earth globe consists of a sphere covered in strips of paper showing the political boundaries of the Earth, the topography of the Earth, or both. These paper balls come in a range of qualities but are essentially all the same.
Another common type of globe shows the topography of the planet with exaggerated relief of major physical features. In this type, mountains are raised above the surface of the sphere, while deep valleys or oceanic canyons are depressed. Because the scale of elevation on Earth is quite small in relation to the size of the Earth itself, this variety usually greatly exaggerates the size of mountains and valleys to make them easily visible.
More expensive models are often made of metal or other dense material, with political or topographical lines etched into the globe itself, rather than printed on strips of paper. These vary greatly in quality and value, from mass-produced globes designed for office use to collectables that can be crafted from precious metals and even inlaid with gems.
Recently, some globes have started using small electromagnets to allow them to hover in the air and rotate on an axis between two magnets. These are relatively affordable, aesthetically pleasing, and a good conversation piece.
In addition to the globes that represent the Earth, there are also some that represent other celestial bodies. The most common are of the moon or Mars, although globes of other planets also exist in our solar system. In addition, some special models depict fictional planets, such as Frank Herbert’s Arrakis from the novel Dune. Yet another type, known as a star globe, depicts the stars in the sky as seen from Earth. These globes are very useful for amateur astronomers and often also show the path of the sun, moon and other planets, as well as the main constellations and important celestial phenomena.
Finally, there are virtual globes. Rather than existing in real space, these globes are mapped into a computer program. The resulting globe can then be explored in a virtual environment. Virtual globes offer a number of advantages over traditional globes, including the ability to integrate a huge amount of information. Many virtual globes make use of global imaging system (GIS) databases, as well as detailed country data, regional data, and even real-time weather tracking.
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