| | | | | World Globes FAQ | Globes FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Need help selecting the perfect world globe? View our World Globe Guide.
Why are globes tilted?
Many globes are made to tilt at an angle of 23.5º to match the actual tilt of the Earth. Incidentally, it is this tilting of the Earth, relative to the sun as it orbits around it, that causes the seasons to change and give us more daylight hours at certain times of the year.
How do you find a place on a globe?
Because a globe is round with no beginning or end, there are 2 imaginary reference lines from which all distances and locations are determined; these are the equator and prime meridian.
Equator: Runs East and West around the exact middle of the globe.
Prime Meridian: Imaginary line running from Pole to Pole and passing through Greenwich, England.
The equator and the prime meridian intersect at point '0' where all numbering starts with longitude and latitude lines.
Longitude: Imaginary lines running parallel with the prime meridian through each Pole and numbered in 15º increments.
Latitude: Imaginary lines running around the globe parallel to the equator at 10º increments.
Locations are uniquely identified on a globe by the point where the longitude and latitude lines intersect, i.e., Dallas, Texas is located 33º North (Latitude) 97º West (Longitude).
How many different maps do we use?
There are more than 50 different maps in use, each displaying different styles or levels of detail. This is due to the different sizes, styles, and languages.
Where can I buy a replacement light bulb for illuminated products?
Any hardware or lighting store. Some of our illuminated globes use a 7-watt nightlight bulb, some a 25-watt candelabra light bulb, and others require a standard light bulb. Please follow these guidelines for globes requiring a standard light bulb:
Please do not use more than a:
75-watt bulb for a 32" globe
40-watt bulb for a 20" globe
15-watt bulb for a 12" globe
What is that little round dial at the North Pole?
It's called a Time Dial and is used to compare time around the world.
How do we choose names for our globes?
Subject to space limitations, we attempt to list all nations, all the capitals, then the biggest city in that country or state. If a city has some importance other than size or a capital it is also included. There are more names on the coastline because there is room for them and this also fills space. We try not to abbreviate names because this leads to confusion for our customers. The U.S. Government has a list of 'conventional' names for cities and countries outside North America. Conventional names are easier to understand than most of the true translations. This is why our maps show Finland, for example, rather than Suomi.
Why a globe instead of an atlas?
Actually, an atlas complements the globe and the globe complements the atlas. Each has features that, when used together, become an excellent reference and teaching tool. The advantage of a globe is that the world in its entirety is depicted on a sphere. As well as being functional, many globes also serve as attractive decorative accessories for homes and offices.
How up-to-date is the globe?
Our vendors have a policy of updating a map every time it is printed. Although the names or boundaries of countries can change due to wars or other political upheavals, most changes are simple name changes that are relatively easy to make. Our policy is that when the U.S. State Department - along with the representatives (usually the Embassies of the governments involved) - recognizes a change as being a fact, we then start to implement the change into our system. Generally, the 9" and 12" diameter globes are the first sizes to be updated, followed by the 16" models and other sizes. Updates can take anywhere from six months to a year, depending on the field inventory. There can be no absolute guarantee that any map is 100% current but this should not be a deterrent to the purchase because the real value of a globe is to show true, geographical relationships.
What are the globes made from?
Globes can be constructed from many materials, such as aluminum, plastic, acrylic, and Presscraft, which is a very dense and durable cardboard-like material.
What is an analemma?
An analemma is the figure-8 path that the sun makes in the sky across the course of a year. If you were to record the position of the sun in the sky at the same time everyday, you would notice over a year's time that the sun takes a rather strange path. At certain times during the year the sun's position not only varies higher and lower (North and South) in the sky, but also slightly East and West. By the end of the year, you would find that the sun makes a figure-8 pattern in the sky. Why? Two reasons. First, the earth is tilted on its axis at 23.5 degrees in relation to the plane of its orbit around the sun. Second, the earth does not orbit the sun in a circle, but in an elipse.
Need help selecting the perfect world globe?
View our World Globe Buying Guide.
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