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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)Need help selecting the perfect world globe? View our World Globe Buying Guide.  Why are globes tilted? How do you find a place on a globe? How many different maps do we use? Where can I buy a replacement light bulb for Replogle products? What is that little round dial at the North Pole? How do we choose names for our globes? Why a globe instead of an atlas? How up-to-date is the globe? I would like a pre-war globe showing original territorial lines? What are the globes made from? What is an analemma? Why are globes tilted?Many globes are made to tilt at an angle of 23.5º to match the actual tilt of the Earth. Incidentally, it is this tilting of the Earth, relative to the sun as it orbits around it, that causes the seasons to change and give us more daylight hours at certain times of the year. Back to Top How do you find a place on a globe?Because a globe is round with no beginning or end, there are 2 imaginary reference lines from which all distances and locations are determined; these are the equator and prime meridian.
Prime Meridian: Imaginary line running from Pole to Pole and passing through Greenwich, England. The equator and the prime meridian intersect at point '0' where all numbering starts with longitude and latitude lines. Longitude: Imaginary lines running parallel with the prime meridian through each Pole and numbered in 15º increments. Latitude: Imaginary lines running around the globe parallel to the equator at 10º increments. Back to Top How many different maps do we use?There are more than 50 different maps in use, each displaying different styles or levels of detail. This is due to the different sizes, styles, and languages. Back to Top Where can I buy a replacement light bulb for illuminated products?Any hardware or lighting store. Some of our illuminated globes use a 7-watt nightlight bulb, some a 25-watt candelabra light bulb, and others require a standard light bulb. Please follow these guidelines for globes requiring a standard light bulb: Please do not use more than a: Back to Top What is that little round dial at the North Pole?
Back to Top  How do we choose names for our globes?Subject to space limitations, we attempt to list all nations, all the capitals, then the biggest city in that country or state. If a city has some importance other than size or a capital it is also included. There are more names on the coastline because there is room for them and this also fills space. We try not to abbreviate names because this leads to confusion for our customers. The U.S. Government has a list of 'conventional' names for cities and countries outside North America. Conventional names are easier to understand than most of the true translations. This is why our maps show Finland, for example, rather than Suomi. Back to Top Why a globe instead of an atlas?Actually, an atlas complements the globe and the globe complements the atlas. Each has features that, when used together, become an excellent reference and teaching tool. The advantage of a globe is that the world in its entirety is depicted on a sphere. As well as being functional, many globes also serve as attractive decorative accessories for homes and offices. Back to Top How up-to-date is the globe?Our vendors have a policy of updating a map every time it is printed. Although the names or boundaries of countries can change due to wars or other political upheavals, most changes are simple name changes that are relatively easy to make. Our policy is that when the U.S. State Department - along with the representatives (usually the Embassies of the governments involved) - recognizes a change as being a fact, we then start to implement the change into our system. Generally, the 9" and 12" diameter globes are the first sizes to be updated, followed by the 16" models and other sizes. Updates can take anywhere from six months to a year, depending on the field inventory. There can be no absolute guarantee that any map is 100% current but this should not be a deterrent to the purchase because the real value of a globe is to show true, geographical relationships. Back to Top I would like a pre-war globe showing original territorial lines?Pre-war globe such as pre-WWI, WWII, or Cold War, are considered to be "Antique Globes". These are not available through us because of the cost and difficulty associated with producing an accurate antique globe. Back to Top What are the globes made from?Globes can be constructed from many materials, such as aluminum, plastic, acrylic, and Presscraft, which is a very dense and durable cardboard-like material. Back to Top What is an analemma?
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Need help selecting the perfect world globe? View our World Globe Buying Guide.
