Location Widget
The Explorer uses the position under the crosshairs for its current location. Most of the geospatial information displayed in the Explorer is relative to this position.
The current location data is displayed in the Location Widget. The Location Widget is more than a simple compass. It also displays an inclinometer, and the terrain's aspect plus the solar azimuth for the current location.
- The latitude, longitude, ground elevation and percent of slope are displayed for the point under the crosshairs.
- The compass needle and compass rose rotate with your view of the globe and always point to true North.
- The sky/ground background is an inclinometer that rotates to represent the slope of the terrain under the crosshairs. To see it in action, zoom in on the globe to see some elevation and then move the crosshairs across the terrain.
- The red diamond icon that orbits the compass indicates the aspect of the terrain under the crosshairs. Its position is relative to the compass points. To see it in action, zoom in on the globe to see a ridgeline and then move the crosshairs back and forth across the ridge.
- The sun icon that orbits the compass indicates the solar azimuth angle. Its position is relative to compass points. To see it in action, either move the time slider, or zoom out on the globe and move the crosshairs in an easterly or westerly direction. When the sun icon and aspect icon are coincident then the maximum solar radiation is received by the terrain at that point. Note that the sun icon turns dark during nighttime hours.