Getting Started

    The Preferences Dialog box allows you to configure the map style that is displayed on your desktop. Note that if you are using OS 9 and have multiple monitors on your system, you may select which monitor to use for EarthDesk's map display.

    Preferences

    At the top right of the preferences dialog box is a thumbnail view of your desktop. After making changes to any of the settings described below, you may click the "Preview" button to see a sample of the map.

    Zoom Level
    The zoom level ranges from 50% to 400%. Depending on the size of your screen, some settings may allow you to display more than 100% of the earth. In this case the image will "wrap around" and Australia for example may appear at more then one place on the map. Similarly, very high zoom levels may result in a blurry image if you go beyond the native resolution of the maps.

    Map Style
    Two options are available: A political map with terrain relief, and a photorealistic image licensed from The Living Earth, Inc. The living earth image will show city lights and correct moon illumination that changes with the phase of the moon.

    Projection
    Allows you to choose one of 11 different projections. See the descriptions on the Map Views and Projections page.

    Center On
    The center of the map may be set to any of 6 different options, the default of which is the "Map Origin" located at 0¡ North Latitude, 0¡ East Longitude.

    If you choose to center on a city, select the city in the city box.

    The following four choices (Subsolar, Subsolar Antipode, Sublunar, Sublunar Antipode) will allow you to position the center of the map directly under the Sun or Moon (or directly opposite them in the case of the Antipode settings). In this way, the map will move throughout the day as it tracks the movement of the sun or moon across the sky.

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