GNOMONIC PROJECTION

Reporters
Mirana, Morato, Montecillo
 Gnomonic Projection

DESCRIPTION

This azimuthal projection

uses the center of the
earth as its perspective
point. All great circles are
straight lines, regardless
of the aspect. This is a
useful projection for
navigation because great
circles highlight routes
with the shortest distance.
This is achieved by casting surface points of the sphere onto
a tangent plane, each landing where a ray from the center of
the sphere passes through the point on the surface and then
on to the plane. No distortion occurs at the tangent point, but
distortion increases rapidly away from it. Less than half of the
sphere can be projected onto a finite map. Consequently, a
rectilinear photographic lens, which is based on the gnomonic
principle, cannot image more than 180 degrees 2
 Gnomonic Projection

History
The gnomonic projection is said to be the oldest map
projection, developed by Thales in the 6th century
BC. The path of the shadow-tip or light-spot in a
nodus-based sundial traces out the same hyperbolae
formed by parallels on a gnomonic map.

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 PROPERTIES
Since meridians and the equator are great circles, they are always
shown as straight lines on a gnomonic map.

• If the tangent point is one of the poles then the meridians are radial and equally spaced. The equator
is at infinity in all directions. Other parallels are depicted as concentric circles.
 PROPERTIES
Since meridians and the equator are great circles, they are always
shown as straight lines on a gnomonic map.

• If the tangent point is not on a pole or the equator, then the meridians are radially outward straight
lines from a Pole, but not equally spaced. The equator is a straight line that is perpendicular to only
one meridian, indicating that the projection is not conformal. Other parallels are depicted as conic
sections
 PROPERTIES
Since meridians and the equator are great circles, they are always
shown as straight lines on a gnomonic map.

• If the tangent point is on the equator then the meridians are parallel but not equally spaced. The
equator is a straight line perpendicular to the meridians. Other parallels are depicted as hyperbolae.
Gnomonic Projection
Properties

Shape
Increasingly distorted from the center;
moderate distortion within 30 degrees of the
center point.

Area
Distortion increases with distance from the
center; moderate distortion within a 30
degree radius of the center

Direction
Accurate from the center

Distance
No line has an accurate scale, and the
amount of distortion increases with distance
from the center.
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Gnomonic Projection
Point of
Projection method
Tangency
This is a planar
A single point anywhere
perspective projection
on the globe.
viewed from the center
of the globe. The
Polar aspect—North
projection can be any
Pole or South Pole.
aspect
Equatorial aspect—any
point along the equator.
Linear Graticules
Oblique aspect—any
All meridians and the other point
equator.

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 Limitations
This projection is limited by its perspective point and cannot project a line that is 90° or
more from the center point; this means that the equatorial aspect cannot project the
poles, and the polar aspects cannot project the equator.

A radius of 30° produces moderate distortion, as indicated in the table above. This
projection should not be used more than about 60° from the center.
Gnomonic Projection

Uses and Applications

All aspects—routes of navigation for
sea and air.

Polar aspect—navigational maps of

polar regions.

Equatorial aspect—navigational maps

of Africa and the tropical region of
South America.

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