Why are illustrations of the universe always elliptical if the universe when viewed in all direction seems to be the same ?
2007-11-06 02:50:32 · 2 answers · asked by gdc 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
You are looking at an elliptical projection of the angular distribution, i.e. something the is 360 degrees wide but only 180 degrees high.
http://www.star.le.ac.uk/xra/research/pictures/2xmmp_skymap_cel.gif
It's the same problem you have when mapping the whole surface of the earth on one map and not just one hemisphere.
2007-11-06 03:13:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because in making illustrations of our Solar System aretists wish to show that the orbits of planets around the Sun are not circular.
I have never seen any illustrations of the "Universe" with orbits shown.
2007-11-06 11:06:28 · answer #2 · answered by zahbudar 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋