MAP PROJECTIONS FOR NON-SPHERICAL WORLDS / THE VARIABLE-RADIUS MAP PROJECTIONS

Increasing interest in the exploration of other worlds in our solar system implies the growing need for extraterrestrial cartography. Conventional map projection techniques can be utilized to map bodies which are nearly spherical in shape. Numerous worlds that are far from spherical have, however, been discovered for which conventional projection techniques are not adequate. Different approaches adopted to map non-spherical worlds are discussed and criticized. A new set of projections, termed morphographic projections, based on the concept of variable radii, are introduced. The projection system is applied to map the non-spherical world Epimetheus, a satellite of Saturn.