In fairness, Mercator is a bit shit. I spent the first eight years or so of my life believing Greenland was, by rights, a continent of its own.
The Flag of United Earth
- Thread starter Vincent Law
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I remember that episode, while played for laughs, I thought at the time (and now) that they made a lot of sense.
Even notice that regardless of which of the many "maps" of the Federation that are out there you look at, Earth is always in the prime position, no matter how the Federation is shaped?
Even notice that regardless of which of the many "maps" of the Federation that are out there you look at, Earth is always in the prime position, no matter how the Federation is shaped?
@Map Projection Issue
Correct me if I'm wrong, but while the standard atlas map is something we're used to, every map drawn two-dimensionally has flaws and is simply wrong. So, not that big a surprise. If you want a good model, buy a globe or download Google Earth.
Which pole is on top is essentially irrelevant, that again only makes a difference because of us being used to north.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but while the standard atlas map is something we're used to, every map drawn two-dimensionally has flaws and is simply wrong. So, not that big a surprise. If you want a good model, buy a globe or download Google Earth.
Which pole is on top is essentially irrelevant, that again only makes a difference because of us being used to north.
The Mercator projection -- on which Greenland and South America appear to be about the same size, despite Greenland actually being one-eighth as big as South America -- was invented by Geradus Mercator in 1569 as an aid to navigators. All the lines of latitude and longitude intersect at right angles, making it easy to plot a course by sea. Mercator never intended his map to be used for purposes other than navigation, although it became one of the most popular world map projections.
The ancient Egyptians drew their maps with south at the top, which made sense to them because their life was centered around the Nile River, which flows northward. Water flows downhill, therefore north = down, south = up.
Most of the Earth’s land and most of the population is north of the equator, so we’ll probably keep on using maps with north at the top. Unless Australia decides to take over the world.
I don't really hate the Mercator. Actually, there's a decent practical reason for an unrealistically large Europe: it has many countries, most of which are tiny, precious little things. One may consider the large Europe to be a sort of projection-based blowup panel, such as we might use to show Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts on a map of the continental U.S.
Of course, maps that don't have hic sunt leones on them aren't very fun.
Of course, maps that don't have hic sunt leones on them aren't very fun.
Tiberius said:
Just what exactly do the stars represent? Nothing. They're just good-looking but meaningless.[/QUOTE]You could always justify it as the number of countries that joined to form the United Earth government or some such.
It's too bad I basically agree with them?
It's too bad I basically agree with them?
Not at all, in fact that was the point of that part of those episodes. The people they initially looked upon as crackpots with fringe ideas they normally would just dismiss out of hand often made valid points once you sat down and actually listened to them.
Or the number of star systems in the colony and post colony membership of United Earth. 48 stars?You could always justify it as the number of countries that joined to form the United Earth government or some such.Tiberius said:
Just what exactly do the stars represent? Nothing. They're just good-looking but meaningless.
Tiberius said:
Just what exactly do the stars represent? Nothing. They're just good-looking but meaningless.
The flag signifies earth's place among the stars. One earth, with all its people united, ready to take their place in the cosmos.
Tiberius said:
What I meant was that the number of stars should represent something specific. States, cultures, people in government. It is a bit too obvious that there are stars in space.
I think I really love the Flagf of Earth, I can't help it. The rest all seem a bit too fiction-like.
Of course a map of the constellations visible from earth would help for the identification issue. A blue planet on a black background and white stars all around it.
Then again, shouldn't the moon be visible, too?
Yeah, the moon should be visible, but I wanted something a bit more iconic and symbolic, so I went with just the Earth. As mentioned above, the stars can be adjusted for whatever number of governments join together to form the united Earth government, as Iguana suggested. I, naturally, had to put in some stars, so I just chose a random number.
That'd be an awful lot of stars...
Presently 203, counting states like the RoC and Kosovo which are de facto independent without overwhelming international recognition.
Presently 203, counting states like the RoC and Kosovo which are de facto independent without overwhelming international recognition.
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