Azimuthal Map Generator

Equal Distance & Equal Area Projections

Every location on Earth has its own unique perspective. Azimuthal projections reveal that perspective, showing the world as seen from your chosen center. This tool offers two projection types: the azimuthal equidistant, which preserves true distances and directions from the center (ideal for navigation and radio bearings), and the Lambert azimuthal equal-area, which preserves the relative sizes of all regions (ideal for thematic maps and comparing areas). Whether you're a ham radio operator, a cartographer creating statistical maps, or simply curious about what's on the opposite side of the world, generate a custom map centered on your location.

Azimuthal Map Generator

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Understanding Azimuthal Projections

Azimuthal projections map the curved surface of the Earth onto a flat plane that touches the globe at a single point. From that center, all azimuthal projections preserve one critical property: true direction. The angle from the center to any other point shows the true compass bearing you would need to travel. What differs among azimuthal projections is what else they preserve.

Property Azimuthal Equidistant Lambert Equal-Area
Distance from center Accurate Distorted
Direction from center Accurate Accurate
Area Distorted Accurate everywhere
Shape Distorted at edges Distorted at edges
Great circles as straight lines Yes (through center) No
Best for Navigation, radio bearings, distance analysis Thematic maps, statistical mapping, area comparison

Azimuthal Equidistant Projection

The azimuthal equidistant projection preserves two critical properties from the center point:

  • Distance: The straight-line distance on the map from the center to any other point equals the true great-circle distance on Earth.
  • Direction: The angle (azimuth) from the center to any point shows the true compass bearing you would need to travel.

This makes it invaluable for applications where you need to know "how far?" and "which way?" from a specific location. The name comes from azimuth (a direction measured as an angle from north) and equidistant (equal distances preserved from the center).

Great Circle Navigation (Equidistant)

USGS diagram showing azimuthal equidistant projection with plane of projection

Image: USGS

A key property of the equidistant projection: any straight line drawn through the center point lies on a great circle, the shortest path between two points on a sphere. This is why the projection is so valuable for aviation and radio: draw a straight line from your location to your destination, and you've found the optimal route.

Video: A Quick Overview of the Azimuthal Equidistant Projection

Watch on YouTube

Video Transcript

When mapping the world from a single point, how do you keep distances accurate? This is the azimuthal equidistant projection.

Centered on a chosen location, an azimuthal equidistant map shows every other point at the true great-circle distance and compass direction from that center. Imagine stretching the globe out radially from that point — distances from the center stay correct, directions do too.

Take a look at this animation. At the top is a 3-D globe and at the bottom an azimuthal equidistant map centered at the same point. Each colored spoke is a meridian; follow any spoke outward from the center and you'll see that the radial distance on the flat map equals the true great-circle distance from the center on the globe. When a point falls on the globe's far side it becomes hidden in the globe view — and it is also not shown on the flat projection. The set of points that remain visible on the projection therefore provides a clear frame of reference for what the globe is currently displaying.

You can use this projection when you need accurate bearings or ranges from one site. For example: radio planning, expedition maps, or local route planning. But remember: distances between two non-central points are not preserved, and shapes can distort near the rim, and the antipode can smear into a ring.

To learn more about azimuthal projections and generate your own custom maps, you can visit azimuthalmap.com.

Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area Projection

The Lambert azimuthal equal-area projection, presented by Swiss mathematician Johann Heinrich Lambert in his 1772 treatise Beiträge zum Gebrauche der Mathematik und deren Anwendung, preserves a different property:

  • Area: All regions on the map are shown at their correct relative size. A country that's twice the size of another will appear twice as large, regardless of where they are on the map.
  • Direction: Like all azimuthal projections, directions from the center are true.

Lambert called this a "synthetic" azimuthal projection. It is not a perspective projection (you cannot create it by shining light through a globe), but rather is constructed mathematically to ensure equal area. The projection is widely used for thematic mapping, statistical analysis, and continental atlases where comparing the sizes of regions matters more than measuring distances. (USGS PP1395, Wikipedia)

Area Preservation (Equal-Area)

USGS diagram showing Lambert azimuthal equal-area projection

Image: USGS

Unlike the equidistant projection, great circles are NOT straight lines on the Lambert equal-area projection (except those passing through the center). The trade-off for preserving area is losing the straight-line great-circle property. However, the equal-area property makes this projection ideal for statistical maps, density visualizations, and any application where accurate area comparison is essential.

What These Projections Are Not

Neither projection is conformal: they do not preserve local shapes and angles (like the stereographic projection does). Neither is a perspective projection: you cannot create either by projecting light through a globe onto a plane. Both are constructed mathematically to achieve their specific properties.

The fundamental trade-off in cartography: no flat map can preserve both area and angles simultaneously. The equidistant projection preserves distance (at the expense of area), while the equal-area projection preserves area (at the expense of distance). Choose based on what property matters most for your application. (USGS PP1395)

The Three Aspects

Both azimuthal projections can be centered anywhere on Earth. Cartographers categorize them into three aspects based on where the projection plane touches the globe. Lambert's 1772 paper discussed the polar and equatorial aspects; the oblique aspect is equally popular today for location-specific maps.

Polar aspect: projection centered on North or South Pole
Polar Centered on North or South Pole. Parallels appear as concentric circles; meridians as straight radial lines.
Oblique aspect: projection centered on any point except poles or equator
Oblique Centered on any point except poles or equator. Most flexible; used for location-specific maps.
Equatorial aspect: projection centered on the equator
Equatorial Centered on the equator. Often used for hemisphere maps in atlases.

Related Azimuthal Projections

The azimuthal equidistant and Lambert equal-area are part of the azimuthal family. All are centered on a single point, but each preserves different properties:

Azimuthal Equidistant Preserves distance from center
Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area Preserves relative area
Stereographic Preserves local shapes and angles
Gnomonic Shows all great circles as straight lines
Orthographic View from infinite distance (like a photograph from space)

Beyond single-center projections: The Two-Point Equidistant projection preserves distances from two chosen points. The Hammer projection (1892) is a modification of Lambert's equal-area that shows the entire world in an ellipse, created by halving vertical coordinates and doubling meridian values.

Practical Applications

Azimuthal projections solve real problems where understanding spatial relationships from a specific point matters. Choose the equidistant projection when distance and direction are critical; choose equal-area when comparing region sizes.

Equidistant Projection Applications

Ham Radio & Antennas

Radio operators use azimuthal maps centered on their station to determine the compass heading for directional antennas. Point your beam antenna along the azimuth line to the target station for optimal signal strength.

Aviation & Navigation

Great-circle routes (the shortest paths between two points on a sphere) appear as straight lines radiating from the center. Pilots and navigators use these maps to plan fuel-efficient long-haul flights.

Seismology

Seismologists center maps on earthquake epicenters to visualize how seismic waves propagate outward. The concentric distance rings show which cities fall within different impact zones.

Defense & Range Analysis

Military analysts use azimuthal maps to visualize missile ranges, radar coverage, and strike capabilities. The famous North Korea missile range map uses this projection with concentric circles showing different missile capabilities.

Telecommunications

Satellite ground stations and telecommunications planners use azimuthal projections to determine coverage areas and signal paths from transmission points.

Emergency Response

First responders can visualize evacuation radii, response times, and resource deployment distances from an incident location, all accurately represented on a single map.

Equal-Area Projection Applications

Statistical Mapping

The European Environment Agency uses the Lambert azimuthal equal-area projection (ETRS89-LAEA) as the standard for European statistical and analytical mapping, ensuring accurate area comparisons across the continent.

Continental & Hemisphere Maps

Commercial atlases like The Times Atlas of the World use Lambert equal-area for continental maps where accurate size comparison matters. It's common for Eastern/Western hemisphere maps in educational materials. (Wikipedia)

Geology & Structural Analysis

Geologists use Schmidt nets (stereographic equal-area nets) based on this projection to plot crystallographic axes, foliation, lineation in rocks, and fault orientations. This is essential for structural geology analysis.

Thematic Mapping

Any map showing density, distribution, or comparative data (population, climate, resources) benefits from equal-area projection. Accurate area ensures visual data representation isn't skewed by projection distortion.

Polar Region Mapping

The USGS National Atlas uses Lambert equal-area for polar expedition maps at 1:39,000,000 scale and Arctic hydrocarbon maps at 1:20,000,000 scale. (USGS PP1395)

Ocean Basin Mapping

The USGS has prepared six Pacific Ocean base maps using Lambert equal-area at scales from 1:8,300,000 to 1:17,100,000, used for geologic, tectonic, and energy resource mapping. (USGS PP1395)

Famous Examples

Equidistant Projection Examples

United Nations Flag featuring azimuthal equidistant projection

The United Nations Emblem

The UN flag features a polar azimuthal equidistant projection centered on the North Pole, extending to 60° south latitude. Adopted in 1946, it symbolizes a unified global perspective: no single nation is placed at the center or given visual prominence over others.

Polish amateur radio station SP1QE with a 1930s vacuum tube transmitter and receiver

Ham Radio Beam Heading Maps

Amateur radio operators use azimuthal equidistant maps centered on their home location to aim directional antennas. The map shows the exact compass bearing to any point on Earth, essential for long-distance (DX) communication via ionospheric propagation.

Star chart showing constellations using polar projection

Star Charts & Planispheres

Polar projections are ideal for mapping the night sky. While stereographic projection is most common (preserving constellation shapes), the azimuthal equidistant is also used in planispheres, rotating star wheels that show which stars are visible at any date and time. (Image: d3-celestial)

Equal-Area Projection Examples

European Environment Agency reference grid based on ETRS89-LAEA projection

European Environment Agency Grid

The ETRS89-LAEA (Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area) is the official projection for European statistical mapping. The European Environment Agency mandates its use for pan-European spatial analysis, ensuring accurate area comparisons across all member states. (Image: EEA)

Logo of the National Atlas of the United States

National Atlas of the United States

The National Atlas online Map Maker application uses Lambert azimuthal equal-area for displaying information, as do USGS polar expedition maps (1:39,000,000) and Arctic hydrocarbon province maps (1:20,000,000). (USGS PP1395)

Schmidt net (stereonet) used in structural geology for plotting orientations

Schmidt Net (Stereonet)

The Schmidt net is a fundamental tool in structural geology, based on the Lambert equal-area projection. Geologists use it to plot orientations of crystallographic axes, fault planes, and rock formations. The equal-area property enables statistical analysis of directional data. (Image: Wikipedia)

Understanding Distortion

No flat map can perfectly represent a sphere, so something must be sacrificed. Both azimuthal projections preserve different properties from the center point, but each trades off other characteristics as you move toward the edges.

Equidistant Projection Distortion

The azimuthal equidistant projection preserves distance and direction from the center only. Area and shape experience increasing distortion toward the edges.

0 – 10,000 km Minimal Distortion

Shapes and sizes appear close to how they look on a globe. This zone covers roughly a quarter of Earth's surface.

10,000 – 15,000 km Moderate Distortion

Landmasses appear stretched tangentially. Shapes are recognizable but noticeably warped.

15,000 – 20,000 km Severe Distortion

Extreme stretching occurs. The antipodal point (exactly opposite the center) smears into a ring around the map's edge.

The Antipode Effect

The maximum distance on an azimuthal equidistant map is half Earth's circumference, about 20,000 km. At this distance, a single point (the antipode) gets stretched into the entire outer circle of the map. This is why Antarctica appears as a ring when the map is centered on the Arctic.

Curious about what's on the opposite side of the world from you? Check out Antipode Finder, where you can explore antipodal points using multiple map projections, including azimuthal views.

Equal-Area Projection Distortion

The Lambert azimuthal equal-area projection preserves area everywhere on the map, making it ideal for density comparisons and statistical analysis. However, angular distortion (shape warping) increases with distance from the center.

0 – 90° Area Always Accurate

Area is perfectly preserved at every point. A 1,000 km² region appears the same size whether near the center or at the edge.

45° – 90° Increasing Angular Distortion

Shapes become increasingly compressed radially and stretched tangentially. Circles become ellipses, but their areas remain correct.

At Antipode Maximum Shape Distortion

Like the equidistant projection, the antipodal point becomes a circle at the map's edge, but this circle has the correct area of a point (essentially zero).

Quantifying Angular Distortion

The maximum angular deformation ω at any point can be calculated from the areal scale factor. At the map's edge (90° from center), angles can be distorted by up to 40°. The relationship is:

sin(ω/2) = |h - k| / (h + k)

where h and k are the scale factors along meridians and parallels. (USGS PP1395, p. 182)

Choosing the Right Projection

Your choice between equal-distance and equal-area depends on what you need to show:

  • Use Equidistant when measuring distances or showing travel routes from a specific location: radio propagation, flight paths, or missile ranges.
  • Use Equal-Area when comparing sizes, showing density distributions, or performing statistical analysis: population density, climate data, or ecological surveys.
  • Center near your region of interest for both projections to keep it in the low-distortion zone.
  • For global views, polar centers or mid-ocean centers often produce the least visually jarring results.

A Brief History

Ancient

Early use for star maps in Egyptian astronomical texts.

1025 CE

Abu Rayhan Biruni produces the earliest known mathematical description of the azimuthal equidistant projection in his treatise on cartography.

1426

Conrad of Dyffenbach creates the earliest known polar azimuthal equidistant map of the world's land masses. (USGS PP1395)

1510

Heinrich Glarean creates the earliest surviving terrestrial map using this projection, a pair of hemispheres. (Robles Macías, 2024)

1569

Gerardus Mercator includes a polar azimuthal equidistant inset in his famous world map.

1581

Guillaume Postel publishes a world map using this projection. In France and Russia, it's still called the "Postel projection" in his honor.

1772

Johann Heinrich Lambert publishes Anmerkungen und Zusätze zur Entwerfung der Land- und Himmelscharten (Notes and Additions on the Composition of Terrestrial and Celestial Maps), introducing the Lambert azimuthal equal-area projection along with several other projections still in use today. (USGS PP1395, p. 182)

1880s

French cartographer Philippe Hatt develops ellipsoidal versions of the oblique aspect, later adopted by France and Greece for coastal and topographic mapping. (USGS PP1395)

1946

The United Nations adopts a polar azimuthal equidistant projection for its emblem and flag.

Today

Both projections are used worldwide. The equidistant version dominates in radio communications, aviation planning, and seismology. The equal-area version is the standard for statistical mapping, including the ETRS89-LAEA projection used across the European Union. Both are available in PROJ, GeographicLib, and all major mapping platforms.

Mathematical Formulas

The azimuthal equidistant projection maps a point on the sphere with latitude $\varphi$ and longitude $\lambda$ to Cartesian coordinates $(x, y)$ on a plane, centered at $(\varphi_0, \lambda_0)$.

Distance from Center (ρ)

The arc distance from the center point to any other point:

$$\cos\left(\frac{\rho}{R}\right) = \sin\varphi_0 \sin\varphi + \cos\varphi_0 \cos\varphi \cos(\lambda - \lambda_0)$$

Where $R$ is the Earth's radius (~6,371 km).

Azimuth Angle (θ)

The compass direction from the center point:

$$\tan\theta = \frac{\cos\varphi \sin(\lambda - \lambda_0)}{\cos\varphi_0 \sin\varphi - \sin\varphi_0 \cos\varphi \cos(\lambda - \lambda_0)}$$

Cartesian Coordinates

Converting polar coordinates $(\rho, \theta)$ to $(x, y)$:

$$x = \rho \sin\theta, \qquad y = -\rho \cos\theta$$

Simplified Polar Case

When centered on the North Pole ($\varphi_0 = 90°$), the formulas simplify to:

$$\rho = R\left(\frac{\pi}{2} - \varphi\right), \qquad \theta = \lambda$$

The longitude directly becomes the azimuth angle, and the distance is proportional to co-latitude.

Sphere vs. Ellipsoid

These formulas assume a perfect sphere. For precision applications, the Earth is better modeled as an ellipsoid (WGS84). Libraries like GeographicLib provide ellipsoidal corrections. For most visualization purposes and distances under a few thousand kilometers, spherical calculations are sufficiently accurate.

Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area Formulas

The Lambert azimuthal equal-area projection also maps points to Cartesian coordinates, but uses a different radial scaling to preserve area rather than distance. (USGS PP1395, pp. 182-190)

Radial Scale Factor (k')

The key to preserving area is the radial scaling factor:

$$k' = \sqrt{\frac{2}{1 + \sin\varphi_0 \sin\varphi + \cos\varphi_0 \cos\varphi \cos(\lambda - \lambda_0)}}$$

This factor equals 1 at the center and increases toward the edges.

Cartesian Coordinates

Converting spherical to planar coordinates:

$$x = R \cdot k' \cos\varphi \sin(\lambda - \lambda_0)$$ $$y = R \cdot k' \left[\cos\varphi_0 \sin\varphi - \sin\varphi_0 \cos\varphi \cos(\lambda - \lambda_0)\right]$$

Simplified Polar Case

When centered on a pole ($\varphi_0 = \pm 90°$), the formulas simplify to:

$$\rho = 2R \sin\left(\frac{90° - \varphi}{2}\right), \qquad \theta = \lambda$$

Compare to the equidistant case: the sine function compresses distances near the pole and stretches them near the equator, preserving area.

Inverse Formulas

To convert from map coordinates back to latitude and longitude:

$$\varphi = \arcsin\left(\cos c \sin\varphi_0 + \frac{y \sin c \cos\varphi_0}{\rho}\right)$$ $$\lambda = \lambda_0 + \arctan\left(\frac{x \sin c}{\rho \cos\varphi_0 \cos c - y \sin\varphi_0 \sin c}\right)$$

Where $\rho = \sqrt{x^2 + y^2}$ and $c = 2 \arcsin\left(\frac{\rho}{2R}\right)$.

Example Azimuthal Equidistant Projection Maps

See how the world looks from different perspectives. Each azimuthal equidistant projection map is centered on a different location, demonstrating how the choice of center affects distortion patterns. (Click to expand)

Azimuthal equidistant map centered on North Pole
North Pole Classic polar view showing the Arctic at center with an 8,000 km radius. All directions from the pole radiate outward, making it easy to see how close the continents are across the Arctic Ocean.
Azimuthal equidistant map centered on South Pole
South Pole Antarctica dominates the center with ice sheets clearly visible. The southern tips of South America, Africa, and Australia appear around the 7,000 km radius, revealing their true distances from the pole.
Azimuthal equidistant map centered on New York City
New York, USA A full-globe view from the East Coast. Greenland and Iceland appear closer than expected. The great-circle route to London passes over the North Atlantic, not across the ocean's widest point. The antipodal point near Australia's southwest coast forms the outer ring.
Azimuthal equidistant map centered on London
London, UK A 5,000 km radius view showing Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East. The bearing lines and distance rings demonstrate how London sits as a hub for routes across the Eastern Hemisphere.
Azimuthal equidistant map centered on Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan A 12,000 km view across the Pacific Rim. The Hawaiian Islands sit almost directly between Tokyo and California. Flights to Europe often route over the Arctic, which is shorter than crossing Asia. The antipodal point lies in the Atlantic near Uruguay.
Azimuthal equidistant map centered on Sydney
Sydney, Australia A southern hemisphere perspective showing why flights from Sydney to South America often route via Auckland. New Zealand appears surprisingly close, while the severely distorted North Atlantic reveals just how far Europe really is from Australia.

Equal-Area Projection Examples

These Lambert azimuthal equal-area maps preserve area rather than distance, making them ideal for comparing sizes and visualizing density data. (Click to expand)

Lambert azimuthal equal-area projection map centered on the North Pole, showing the Arctic region with all countries displayed at their true relative sizes
North Pole (Equal-Area) The polar equal-area view shows the true relative sizes of Arctic nations. Unlike the equidistant version, the area of Greenland is correctly proportioned to Canada. No more Mercator-style exaggeration.
Lambert azimuthal equal-area projection map of Europe using ETRS89-LAEA standard, centered at 52°N 10°E for accurate statistical mapping
Europe (ETRS89-LAEA) The official projection for European statistical mapping, centered at 52°N, 10°E. This view enables accurate comparison of population densities and land use across EU member states.
Lambert azimuthal equal-area projection map of the United States centered at 39°N 96°W, showing the contiguous states and Alaska at correct relative sizes
United States An oblique equal-area view centered on the contiguous United States. Alaska appears at its true size relative to the lower 48 states, about one-fifth of the total area, not the giant it appears on many wall maps.

Frequently Asked Questions

An azimuthal equidistant projection is a map projection where all points are shown at their true distance and direction from a chosen center point. It preserves distances from the center and azimuths (compass directions) from the center to any location. The name comes from "azimuth" (a direction measured as an angle from north) and "equidistant" (equal distances are preserved from the center).

Distances and directions from the center point are mathematically exact on a spherical Earth model. However, distances between two points where neither is the center will be distorted. As a rule of thumb:

  • Within 10,000 km: Minimal distortion, shapes look similar to a globe
  • 10,000–15,000 km: Moderate distortion, shapes stretched but recognizable
  • Beyond 15,000 km: Severe distortion, the antipode smears into a circle

When a map is centered on the North Pole or northern locations, Antarctica lies at or near the maximum possible distance (~20,000 km, half Earth's circumference). At this extreme, the single antipodal point gets "smeared" into the entire outer edge of the circular map. This isn't an error; it's a mathematical consequence of projecting a sphere onto a plane. Antarctica appears normally on maps centered in the Southern Hemisphere.

Only if one of those cities is the map's center point. The azimuthal equidistant projection preserves distances from the center only. To find the accurate distance between two arbitrary cities, you would need to generate a new map centered on one of them, or use a great-circle distance calculator.

Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (geographic north pole), ranging from 0° to 360°. Compass bearing often references magnetic north, which differs from true north by the local magnetic declination. Azimuthal map projections always use true north. If you're using a magnetic compass to follow directions from an azimuthal map, you'll need to apply the appropriate declination correction for your location.

No. The azimuthal equidistant projection is derived from spherical geometry and is mathematically dependent on Earth being a sphere (or ellipsoid). The distortion patterns, especially the antipodal smearing, are exactly what spherical trigonometry predicts. The UN flag uses this projection not because the Earth is flat, but because the polar view treats all nations equally around the center. Ironically, the projection's distortion characteristics are evidence of Earth's curvature, not an alternative to it.

Earth's circumference is approximately 40,000 km. The farthest any point can be from the center (following the surface) is exactly half that distance: the antipodal point, 20,000 km away. Going any "farther" would actually bring you closer again from the other direction. This is why azimuthal equidistant maps have a natural circular boundary at roughly 20,000 km radius.

Equal-Area Projection Questions

The Lambert azimuthal equal-area projection is a map projection that preserves area everywhere on the map. Any region on the map has the correct size relative to any other region. It was invented by Johann Heinrich Lambert in 1772 and is widely used for statistical mapping, thematic maps, and scientific analysis where accurate area representation matters.

Use equal-area when comparing sizes or showing density data: population maps, climate data, election results, or ecological surveys. Use equidistant when measuring distances or showing routes from a specific point: radio coverage, flight paths, or seismic distances. Neither is "better"; they serve different purposes.

Yes. Because it preserves area, shapes must be distorted to compensate. This is a fundamental trade-off in cartography. Near the center, shapes are nearly correct. Moving outward, features become compressed radially and stretched tangentially. The distortion is most severe at the map's edge, where shapes can appear significantly flattened.

The European Terrestrial Reference System 1989 Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area (ETRS89-LAEA) projection is the official standard for statistical mapping across the European Union. It's centered at 52°N, 10°E (roughly central Germany) and uses the EPSG:3035 coordinate reference system. The equal-area property enables accurate comparison of statistics across member states.

A Schmidt net is a graphical tool used by geologists to plot and analyze three-dimensional orientation data on a two-dimensional surface. It's based on the Lambert azimuthal equal-area projection, which ensures that clusters of data points reflect true density distributions. Geologists use it to analyze rock structures, fault orientations, and crystallographic data.