Globe
Spherical model of Earth or the heavens without distortion.
A globe is a spherical model of Earth, another celestial body, or the celestial sphere. Unlike flat maps, which must distort the shape or size of large features due to map projections, a globe preserves both shape and size accurately, only scaling down the entire surface. Terrestrial globes depict Earth’s landmasses and water bodies, often showing nations, major cities, and the grid of latitude and longitude lines. Some feature raised relief to exaggerate mountains and other large landforms, as true elevations would otherwise be invisible. Most modern terrestrial globes also include an analemma, a diagram marking the Sun’s apparent yearly motion. Celestial globes display notable stars and constellations, typically marking the ecliptic—the Sun’s apparent path—while omitting the Sun, Moon, and planets due to their variable positions. A structural challenge arises because Earth’s perspective is a gnomonic projection from the sphere’s center, while the globe itself is an external orthographic projection, reversing constellations. Opaque celestial globes often reverse both constellations and text so that a mirror restores correct orientation. The word “globe” derives from Latin *globus*, meaning “sphere.” The first known mention of a globe comes from Strabo, describing the Globe of Crates from about 150 BC. The oldest surviving terrestrial globe is the Erdapfel, made by Martin Behaim in 1492, depicting only the Old World. The oldest surviving celestial globe sits atop the Farnese Atlas, a 2nd-century Roman copy of a Hellenistic sculpture. Historically, celestial globes reflected geocentric models, such as Ptolemy’s system, until Copernicus proposed heliocentrism. Many globes have a circumference of one metre, yielding a scale of about 1:40 million, or a diameter of one foot, giving a scale of roughly 1:42 million. Globes generally show north at the top, but many allow the axis to be swiveled for viewing southern portions or different orientations.
- oldest_surviving_celestial_globe
- 2nd century AD (Farnese Atlas)
- etymology
- From Latin 'globus', meaning 'sphere'
- common_scale
- 1:40 million (1 m circumference) or 1:42 million (1 ft diameter)
Lore & Background
The sphericity of Earth was established by Greek astronomy in the 3rd century BC, and the earliest known terrestrial globe was constructed by Crates of Mallus in the mid-2nd century BC. No terrestrial globes from Antiquity survive, but a celestial globe survives as part of the Farnese Atlas, a 2nd-century AD Roman copy. A globe is a spherical model of Earth, another celestial body, or the celestial sphere. Unlike flat maps, which distort shape or size over large areas due to map projections, a globe represents the surface without distortion, only scaling it down. Terrestrial globes depict landmasses and water bodies, often showing nations, major cities, and a grid of latitude and longitude lines. Some feature raised relief to represent mountains and large landforms, with elevations exaggerated for visibility. Many are made with a circumference of one metre, modeling Earth at a scale of 1:40 million, or with a diameter of one foot (about 30 cm) for a scale of 1:42 million. Celestial globes show notable stars and constellations, marking the ecliptic (the Sun’s apparent path) but excluding the Sun, Moon, and planets due to their variable positions. Historically, celestial globes reflected geocentric models, such as Ptolemy’s system, until Copernicus proposed a heliocentric model. The oldest surviving terrestrial globe is the Erdapfel, made by Martin Behaim in 1492.
Reader's Guide
Globes serve as the only representation of Earth that does not distort the shape or size of large features. They are made in various sizes, with many having a circumference of one metre (scale 1:40 million) or a diameter of one foot (scale 1:42 million). Some globes feature raised relief for topography, with elevations exaggerated for visibility. Most modern globes include parallels and meridians for coordinates, and many show an analemma diagram. Historically, celestial globes reflected geocentric models until Copernicus proposed heliocentrism. The manufacture of globes evolved from glued paper gores on wooden spheres to modern thermoplastic hemispheres. Notable large globes include the Unisphere (37 m diameter), Wyld's Great Globe (18.39 m), and Eartha (12 m diameter).
Did You Know?
- The word 'globe' comes from the Latin 'globus', meaning 'sphere'.
- The Farnese Atlas, a 2nd-century Roman copy, holds the oldest surviving celestial globe.
- Some globes have raised relief with mountains exaggerated up to 57 times their correct scale.
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