Orthographic projection
Orthographic projection resembles a view of the globe from space. It does not show the whole planet at once, but gives something flat maps often cannot: a natural sense of curvature and the real shape of Earth.
Closest to a globe, farthest from a complete world map
The orthographic view is intuitive because it resembles a photograph of the planet. Countries near the center of the disk look natural, while areas at the edge disappear into perspective. It is an honest experience: the viewer immediately understands that not everything can be seen at once.
That is why the globe is such a good antidote to wall-map illusions. It does not stretch Greenland to Africa's size, it does not make Russia half the world, and it does not pretend a sphere can be flattened without loss. Instead, it shows local truth at the cost of full coverage.
Global Cartographic Grid
Distortion Properties
| Property | Characteristic |
|---|---|
| Area | DistortedDistorted; only the center is free of distortion, and areas are compressed more and more toward the edge of the disk |
| Shape | DistortedHighly distorted near the edges (foreshortened perspective) |
| Distances | DistortedDistorted: distances measured from the center shrink toward the edge of the disk |
| Angles and directions | DistortedDistorted; only the center of the map is free of distortion |
| Continuity | PartiallyOne hemisphere at a time; the far side of the globe is hidden |
History & Origin
Known since antiquity: the Egyptians and Greeks probably knew it, and in the 2nd century BC Hipparchus used it to find where stars rise and set. It represents a perspective view of the globe projected onto a plane from an infinite distance (like from outer space).
Applications
3D Earth visualizations in software, interactive globes, and illustrations in astronomy and geography textbooks.
How to read this map
This is not a wall map; it is a window onto the planet. Rotate the viewpoint, because truth appears where an area is near the center.
- The center of the disk is the most reliable part.
- Edges are foreshortened and not suitable for comparison.
- You cannot see the whole world at once, but you can see curvature.
- It works beautifully as a contrast to flat projections.
What you gain and lose
Orthographic projection preserves the natural globe impression near the center, but loses half the world and compresses edges. It is locally more visually truthful, globally less complete.
Globe illustrations, education about Earth's curvature, and comparison with flat maps.
Whole-world maps, quick comparison of distant continents, and global navigation.
Not sure this projection fits your map? Answer three questions in the finder →
Want to see it next to another projection? Compare: Globe (Orthographic) vs Mercator →
Can you recognize this projection without the label?
The projection quiz uses graticules and world outlines, so it is a natural next step from this page.
One attempt, the same set for everyone
Size illusion · Build a streak and come back tomorrow for another map.
✦ How do different countries look in this projection?
Analyze shape distortions of 5 countries in this cartographic projection and test them in the sandbox.
Poland at the center looks natural and unstretched.
Test on map →
Brazil shows the true weight of the tropics on a globe.
Test on map →
Australia works well as a separate southern-hemisphere view.
Test on map →
Russia needs globe rotation because one view cannot show it fairly.
Test on map →
Greenland loses the mythical size familiar from Mercator.
Test on map →Facts worth remembering
- Orthographic projection has been known since antiquity.
- It shows only one hemisphere at a time, which is both a weakness and a strength.
- It is the best quick contrast for the question: what does a flat map do to a sphere?
Keep reading about maps that reshape intuition
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used to show a realistic 3D perspective of the Earth from space, in weather maps, interactive globes, and astronomical charts.
It must not be used to display the entire world at once, as it can only project one hemisphere at a time.
Countries near the outer boundary disk of the visible Earth, as they undergo severe compression and perspective foreshortening.
The country situated at the absolute center of the visible disk, which experiences zero shape or size distortion.
The central point lies perpendicular to the projection plane, experiencing zero distortion. Towards the edges, the angle increases, causing compression and foreshortening.