General

Can be used to map large continent-sized areas of similar extent in all directions, such as the Arctic and Antarctic.

Used in geophysics to solve spherical geometry problems.

Polar aspects are used for topographic maps and navigation charts for latitudes above 80°.

Conformal and perspective but not equal area or equidistant.

Directions

True only from the centre point of projection.

Scale

Increases away from the centre point. Any straight line through the centre point is a great circle.

Areas

Distortion increases away from the centre point

Shapes

Distortion of large shapes increases away from the centre point

Type

Azimuthal.

Geometrically projected on a plane. The point of projection is at the surface of the globe opposite the point of tangency.

History

Dates from the second century BC and is ascribed to the Greek astronomer Hipparchus.

Note

Directly supported.

(United States Geological Survey, n.d.)