Thanks Hungry.

The original Arnaron map - the "old" one - was created in that projection, which I then found difficult to use further. That's why I decided to re-created it (the "new" version) as a flat map. Google Earth is simply the most convenient way for me to view my map as a sphere, i.e. how the planet would "really" look like. For drawing I use Inkscape exclusively.

Yeah there is "real" martian geography in these maps. It's mostly Olympus Mons and Valles Marineris. Arnâron is my "fantasy Mars". I'd use and modify Barsoom, but the ERB, Inc. still claims trademarks and unlike Copyrights, Trademarks don't expire automatically after some time period. So in principle if you use John Carter, Barsoom, Tarzan etc they could sue you for unauthorized use of their trademarks... and that is not somehting I want to hassle with. Especially since I do attempt to take other people's rights serious, no matter if I do not agree with them in individual cases.

As for the rivers and oceans, I actually created the "old" Arnaron with full plate tectonics, climate, and even a rough idea of how civilization spread before the planet dried up. Check out this thread http://www.cartographersguild.com/sh...Arn%E2ron-Maps for details.