Abstract: A puzzle comprising a planar map projection is formed from a conformal projection of the earth's surface onto an equilateral tetrahedron whose apices are located at preselected significant points on the surface, for example, major airports, major seaports, etc. The planar map puzzle is tesselated (that is, space filling) and periodic (repeating itself with, at most, changes of orientation). A plurality of frames are provided to accommodate different predefined configurations of the puzzle pieces to thereby illustrate differing features of the respective configurations.

Abstract: A sundial comprising a transparent hollow globe marked with latitude and longitude lines and including a map of the world is mounted on a stationary base. The globe is adjustable with respect to the base to enable the polar axis to be inclined toward a geographic pole of the earth and to permit alignment of a desired geographic location on the map with an index point. A reflector is mounted at the center of the globe and focuses an image of the sun onto the interior surface of the globe. The image traverses the globe as the earth rotates, thereby tracking the actual path of the sun with respect to the earth on the globe surface.