I'm repeatedly amazed at how Google maps manages to generate an accurate overlay to satellite photography. I wonder is the photography manipulated in some sort of matrix to make its xy coords mathematically predictable? I have zero maths skills so will live in wonder and confusion but if it is projection based (mathematically projecting a sphere onto a flat surface), how cool would it be if Gmaps let you select your projection? My current fave is the Peters projection which shows accurate areas (and a high shock value) and goes some way to helping us find 'our place' on the planet (I would say a few specks is a truer assessment than a Conquering Horde)
The Peters projection on Googlemaps
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Hi Kenny,
Thanks for the comment and the link :-)
I agree there's an "on balance" issue and my opinion has certainly been influenced by the West Wing episode with CJ seeing the projection for the first time.
I still think it would be neat for Google to allow a change of projection.
The Peters projection is as badly distorted as the Mercator projection. Yes, it shows area-accurate continents, but that's about all it does properly.
http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa030201a.htm