Map Area
The Map Area of the program window shows the selected background map, as chosen in 'Setup > Map Background-Select', that has been projected with a method chosen in 'Setup > Projection'. It forms the heart of the 'Great Circle Mapper' program. The exact layout also depends on the chosen projection: the map may be surrounded with a plain background and a compass bearing-ring (compass rose), or a simulated star-field.
The numbers around the compass rose show bearing to True North. The interval between the numbers can be changed with the 'Plot > Radial Lines > Spacing' control, even if the Radial Lines are not currently being shown on the map.
If you would like to see bearings to Magnetic North as well as True North, go to 'Setup > Projection', choose the 'Azimuthal Equidistant' projection, then go to 'Plot > Plot Magnetic Bearings'. Checking the checkbox will add an additional compass rose that is offset from the inner one. The amount that it is offset depends on the Magnetic Variation value for the position at the center of the map. Try re-centering the map by clicking to see how this value changes. For more information, see the 'Magnetic Variation' tab-page.
You can overlay a number of different items over the map: go to 'Plot' for latitude/longitude lines, radial lines, grid locators, prefixes, beacons, capital cities, and country names. Go to 'Beam' to plot antenna beamwidth. Go to 'Range' to plot range-rings. Go to 'Route' to add a route between 2 points. Go to 'Solar' to plot the GrayLine and Night Overlay, plus other celestial bodies. An individual color for each of these items can be saved for the current background-map.
Moving your mouse over the map will show additional data in the 'Status Bar': the Latitude/Longitude position and Grid Locator where the mouse currently is, and the distance, current short path and long path direction from the User Location of the map. The units used for distance (Kilometres, Statue Miles, or Nautical Miles) can be set in the 'Options' page. If the map is not centered on the User Location, then the Status Bar will also show the distance and bearings from the Map Center.
Click the map at any time to re-center it. This will change the 'Setup > Map Center' from 'Home Location' to 'Custom Location', and will enter the position of the map center to the Center Latitude and Longitude boxes. To re-center the map to your own position, click the 'Home Location' radio-button. You can also enter a manual position, and then click 'Refresh' to re-center the map.
The Map has a right-click Context Menu with more commands. You can find out about this in the 'Right-Click Context Menu' help-page.
You can zoom the Map in or out with the vertical scroll bar, on the right of the program-window.
You can add any of the available Map Widgets to this map, or anywhere on your desktop. See the Widgets help-page for more information.
To change the TimeZone of the Clock2 or Clock3 Widgets, right-click the map and choose 'Set Widget Clock2/3 to this TimeZone'.